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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

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CIHIVI/ICMH 
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microfiches. 


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°^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  blbliographiques 


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Dougias  Library 
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empreinte. 

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dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  salon  ie 
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symbols  V  signlfie  "FiN". 

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fiimAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
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reproduit  en  un  seui  ciichA,  11  est  film«  A  partir 
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J. 


TALES 


OP   THE 


NIAGARA  FRONTIER. 


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PABT  1 


QUEENSTON, 


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Toi.\e'?>»^  . 


*"»  \ 


.  # 


QUEENSTON, 


A  TALE 


v' 


OF  THE 


NIAGARA  FRONTIER. 


"  "^^  «^^  .1  <■  ^  V^f'W  vw>^ 


BUFFALO. 
Steele's   press, 


1845. 


My»'-^a>fcm«B,-j"::'gi»»¥fwi»iitHWi^i>!in^'J^  <■  rni— p 


L 


^/ 


«r5 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845,  by 

OLIVER  G.   STEELE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


y 


T*  ,ij!i";'^ 


/i 


NOTE. 


Q. 


The  series  of  little  books  proposed  to  be  pub- 
lished  under  the  general  title  of  "Tales  op  the 
JV.AGARA  Fkontier,"  are  intended  to  illustrato 
some   portions  of  the  History  of  the    War  of 
18  2.     Accurate  dates  and  descriptions  of  places 
Will  be  g,ven.  though  not  with  very  minute  detail: 
and  the  names  of  officers  who  took  part  in  the 
scenes  described,  and  the  events  with  which  they 
were  connected,  will   be  stated,  so  far  as  the 
wruer  may   be  able  to  do  so,   with   historical 
acucraey.     In  other  respects,  the  stories  may  be 
regarded  as  fictions. 


163705 


r- 


« 

4, 


,^( ;. ,;,., 


.^' 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Niagara  River,  or  the  Strait  that  connects 
Lake  Erie  with  Lake  Ontario,  being  the  only  out- 
let for  the  greatest  chain  of  inland  waters  in  the 
world,  which  are  there  poured  over  the  great  Cat- 
aract,   and   forming   the   boundary  between   the 
United  States  and  Canada,  has  been  the  scene  of 
many  interesting  historical  events.     Courage  as 
true  and  devoted  has  there  been  exhibited,  as  that 
of  the   Spartans   at  the   pass   of  Thermopylae. 
Its  waters  have  been  made  red  by  the  blood  of 
brave  men  who  died  in  their  struggles  for  the  lib- 
erty and  the  rights  which  had  been  denied  them. 
On  its  banks  many  a  spot  has  been  made  holy  by 
the  burial  of  a  soldier.     It  is  classic  ground;  and  in 
future  ages  there  will  be  the  shrines  where  pil- 
grims will  come  to  worship  the  memory  of  heroes. 
Time  as  well  as  blood  is  necessarv  to  consecrate 
the  battle  field.     Little  is  now  thought  of  the 


JT    '*:■ 


vm 


places  where  these  scenes  occurred  because  their 
history  is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  all  except  the 
young.     To  them  it  is  hoped  this  little  book  will 
be  an  acceptable  offering.     But  the  time  will  come 
when  this  river  through  its  whole  length,  which 
is  about  thirty  five  miles,  will  reflect  from  its  wa- 
•  ters  the  images  of  many  beautiful  mansions  that 
will  be  erected  on  its  banks.     Thousands  of  years 
hence  it  will  be  the  task  of  the  school  boy,  in  the 
study  of  the  antiquities  of  his  Country,  to  learn 
the  deeds  of  arms  that  have  been  wrought  there. 
History  and  Poetry  will  vie  with  each  other  in  the 
relations  of  fact  and  the  creations  of  fancy.     But 
romance  will  be  excelled  by  reality.     The  Niaga- 
ra will,  to  future  ages,  call  to  mind  the  heroic  in 
history,  as  the  Hellespont  now  does  to  us;  and, 
as  at  the  chosen  spots  of  the  old  world,  patriotism' 
Will  burn  with  a  brighter  glow  at  the  mention  of 
Its  name.     The  loves  of  Hero  and  Leander,  im. 
mortalized  by  the  Grecian  bard,  and  tales  of  war 
by  sea  and  land  will  be  matched  by  stories  of  the 
Niagara. 


: 


QUEENSTON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CAPTAIN   GRAY  AND  HIS    FAMILY. 

A  few  years  ago,  there  resided  in  one  of 
the  small  towns  in  Western  New  York,  a 
man  apparently  about  fifty  years  of  age, 
familiarly  know  in  the  neighborhood  as  the 
Captain.  He  was  a  man  of  moderate  stature, 
with  a  countenance  that  seemed  worn  by  fa- 
tigue and  the  hardships  of  wind  and  weather; 
but  possessing,  for  all  that,  an  openness  and 
sincerity  of  expression,  that  at  once  endear- 
ed him  to  all  who  knew  him.  Though  care- 
less  of  his  person,  he  was  engaging  in  his  man- 
ners, and  like  all  old  soldiers,  he  was  addict- 
ed to  fighting  his  battles  over  again  whenever 
he  could  find  a  faithful  and  patient  listener. 

He  had  at  that  period  been  a  resident  of 
the  place  for  many  years,  with  the  exception 


::m»rm 


•<Ai 


9  'l^Sfi-t, 


J^JSl^ 


I 


10 


CAPTAIN  GRAY 


of  some  short  intervaJs   during  which   the 
peace   and  security  of  his  home  had  been 
disturbed  by  border  warfare.     At  such  times 
he  had  been  accustomed  to  remove  with  his 
family  to  a  place  of  greater  security  at  some 
distance  in  the  interior.     He  however  sought 
no  such  place  of  safety  for  himself.     He  had 
planted  himself  in  the  forest  at  so  early  a 
period,  that  but  few  white  inhabitants  were 
to  be  found  for  many  miles  around.     He  was 
then  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  and  already 
inured  to  the  hardships  of  forest  life.     His 
eye  was  quick  in  discovering  the  trail  of  the 
Indian  hunter;    and  in  enjoying  and   loving 
the  freedom  of  the  woods,  he  had  learned  to 
love  and  defend  the  freedom  of  his  Country. 
While  he  looked  for  security  for  his  wife  and 
children,  he  sought  for  himself  the  field  of 
danger.      He   had    served    as   a  volunteer 
through  most  of  the  period  from  1812  to 
1815.     From  the  profession  of  arms  how- 
ever, he  was  obliged,  sometimes,  to  turn  to 
the  cultivation  of  his  farm. 

At  the  period  he  is  introduced  to  the  rea- 
der, his  fields  were  surrounded  with  fences 
and  covered  with  flocks.     The  harvest  had 


AND  HIS  FAMILY. 


u 


^ 


<. 


I 


filled  his  barn,  and  his  house  and  heart  were 
the  abodes  of  peace  and  plenty.  If  want 
came  near  his  dwelling,  it  was  satisfied  from 
his  abundance.  Around  his  fireside  were 
gathered  those  whom  it  had  been  his  pride 
and  his  duty  to  cherish  and  protect.  When 
the  labors  of  the  day  were  ended,  it  was  a 
pleasure  to  him  to  recount  to  his  family  and 
friends,  the  stories  of  his  youth  id  his  earli- 
er manhood.  He  delighted  to  tell  of  scenes 
of  danger  and  deeds  of  arms. 

It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions,  when  his 
children  were  repeating  to  their  cousin  Har- 
ry some  of  the  stories  they  had  learned  from 
their  father,  that  Captain  Gray  is  presented 
to  the  reader.  Harry  West,  now  twelve 
years  of  age,  had  come  on  a  visit  to  his 
Uncle  and  Cousins  from  a  small  village  in 
New  England.  He  had  heard  how  his  uncle 
Gray  had  left  his  father's  house  in  early  life 
and  made  for  himself  a  home  in  the  forests 
of  the  West.  He  had  been  told  of  his  wild 
and  desolate  pathway  along  the  borders  of 
the  Mohawk,  sometimes  on  foot,  and  some- 
times in  Indian  canoes;  now  carrying  his 
pack  on  iiis  bacis:,  and  now,  to  avoid  this  bur- 


-  k-     ■  .j^.^^-,.. 


12 


CAPTAIN  GRAY 


den,  assisting  in  carrying  the  canoe  around 
such  rapid  parts  of  the  stream  as  they  were 
unable  to  ascend.     He  had  heard  how,  by 
successively  trudging  with  his  pack  and  pul- 
ling ijt  the  oar,  he  had,  after  leaving  the  Mo- 
hawk, gained  the  shores  of  Lake  Ontario,  and 
how,  by  means  of  his  canoe,  ho  had  coasted 
along  its  southern  shore,  stopping  by  night 
and   kindling  a  fire  upon  its  banks,  makin^i- 
his  bed  of  the  boughs  of  the  hemlock,  till  he 
reached    the   mouth   of  the    Niagara,    and 
thence  had  come  to  his  present  location. 

His  family  at  this  time  consisted  of  a  son 
and  two  daughters.     Alice,  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter, was  a  pattern  of  amiableness  and  filial 
affection.     Her  domestic  virtues  seemed  to 
be   ripened   before    the   ordinary  period   of 
womanhood,  and  none  was  to  be  found  in  the 
neighborhood  of  sweeter  temper  or  kinder 
disposition  than  Alice  Gray.     Her  younger 
sister  had  less  of  the  sedateness  of  woman, 
but   more  of  that   sprightliness   of  manner 
which  is  so  engaging  in  the  young.     She  de- 
lighted in  tales  of  chivalry  and  romance,  and 
though  rather  too  giddy  and  playful  at  times, 
she  had  always  been  a  natient  pnnil  nnr]  ri 


i  • 


AMD  HU  FAMILY. 


13 


quiet  listener  to  the  stories  related  by  her 
father;  while  Charles  possessed  rather  those 
negative  quahties  which  gave  him  no  very 
decided  character,  though  he  was  not  defici- 
ent  in  quickness  and  understanding.  He 
usually  performed  with  alacrity  whatever 
his  father  desired,  and  gave  himself  very 
little  concern  about  the  consequences  to  rJ- 
suit  from  his  acts. 

While  her  mother  and  sister  were  busied  • 
with  household  affairs,  Lucy  Gray  had  been 
reciting  to  Harry  some  of  the  more  simple 
events  of  the  war,  and  his  mind  was  so  much 
ammated  by  them,  that  he  was  anxious  to 
know  more  about  it. 

Lucy  was  the  Captain's  youngest  daughter 
and  was  now  scarcely  ten  years  old.  Har- 
ry, had  promised  her  that  if  she  would  con- 
tmue  her  Narrative,  he  would  in  turn  relate 
to  her  such  tales  as  his  years  and  habits  had 
enabled  him  to  gather.  It  is  true  he  could 
not  tell  of  battles  and  victories  as  well  as 
Lucy  Gray;  but  then  he  could  tell  of  birth- 
day frolics,  and  christmas-eves,  and  May-day 
Queens,  and  who  had  gained  the  crown  of 
r^^"&«  j^uu^  nuvvers,  and  how  they  had 


► 


14  CAPTAIN  GRAY 

envied  each  other;  and  this  he  thought  would 
please  his  cousin  well. 

*'0  Harry,"  said  Lucy,  "tell  me  the  story  ot 
the  May-day  and  the  May-Queen  to-night, 
and  father  will  tell  you  to-morrow  of  battles 
and  wars;  he  knows  more  such  stories  than 
I  do  and  can  tell  them  better.'' 

Harrv  turned  to  his  uncle  for  a  look  ot 
consent]  but  the  Captain  was  looking  in  the 
fire  and  did  not  seem  to  hear  what  had  been 

said.  .    J 

-Father!"  said  Lucy,  "I  have  promised 
Harry  that  if  he  will  tell  me  some  stories  1 
want  to  hear  to-night,  that  you  will  tell  him 
to-morrow  the  story  of  some  battle— the  bat- 
tie  of  Queenston  or  the  battle  of  Lundy  s 
Lane.    Will  you  fatherl"  ^  .    .    ^  . 

"Yes  my  Child,  to-morrow,  if  it  is  lair, 
we  will  go  round  the  farm  and  see  that  the 
harvest  is  all  secure,  and  next  day  we  will 
go  to  the  river  and  show  Harry  all  that  can 

be  seen. 

With  this  Harry  was  well  content,  and 
thus  with  the  lively  stories  of  y  ith,  and 
the  calm  reffections  of  age,  the  evening  pas- 
sed happily  away. 


\ 


i 


1' 


AND  HIS  FAMILY. 


15 


ould 

ryof 

light, 

Eittles 

than 

ok  of 
n  the 
[  been 

•mised 
)ries  I 
;ll  him 
:ie  bat- 
undy's 

is  fair, 
lat  the 
^e  will 
iiat  can 

it,  and 
th,  and 
ng  pas- 


! 


^ 


II 


The  next  morning  the  sun  rose  bright  and 
clear.  Harry,  escorted  by  the  Captain  and 
Charles,  went  forth  to  view  the  various  lo- 
calities about  the  farm,  and  to  see  how  the 
axe  had  triumphed  over  the  forest. 

"There,"  said  the  Captain,  pointing  to  the 
woods  at  a  distance,  "you  can  see  how  labor 
and  cultivation  has  changed  the  face  of  na- 
ture. These  fields  were  once  covered  by 
such  lofty  trees  as  you  see  there.  By  that 
large  tree  yonder  passed  the  Indian  trail  that 
led  from  Niagara  to  an  Indian  settlement  on 
the  Genesee  river.  The  Indians,  as  they 
passed  from  one  of  these  points  to  the  other, 
generally  followed  this  path.  But  if  they 
had  any  secret  mission  to  perform,  they  took 
another  route  through  a  wilder  part  of  the 
woods  thridding  their  way  carefully  through 
the  thickets,  and  raising  up  as  they  passed 
the  weeds  and  grass,  that  might  have  been 
borne  dov^n  by  the  tread,  so  as  to  leave  no 
sign  of  their  path  that  could  be  followed  by 
others." 

It  was  now  Autumn,  and  the  young  fruit 
trees  were  slightly  bending  under  their  first 
liUiia.     rittn^-  luiiuvvc'u  lUKi  v^upiain  mrougn 


1 


16 


CAPTAIN  GRAY 


the  fields  and  was  delighted  to  see  fhe  patch- 
es of  corn,  with  here  and  there  an  ear,  from 
which  the  silver  husk  had  fallen,  standing 
erect  like  an  ingot  of  gold.  He  was  not 
pleased  with  the  sight  because  it  was  new, 
for  he  had  often  seen  such  things  before,  but 
because  the  feelings  of  his  heart  were  in 
harmony  with  the  beauties  of  the  field. 

"But  what,"  said  Harry,  *'has  become  of 
all  the  Indians  that  used  to  wander  about 

these  woods'!" 

"Gone,"  said  the  Captain,  'Ho  other  parts 
of  the  Country.  There  are  some,  called  the 
Tuscaroras,  a  few  miles  distant;  and,  after 
we  have  been  to  the  river  and  the  battle- 
ground, we  will  pay  them  a  visit." 

Harry  thought  he  should  be  well  pleased 
with  this,  hut  seemed  to  be  thinking  as  if  he 
had  some  fears  about  making  the  trial.  He 
was  however  soon  re-assured  by  the  Cap- 
tain, who  told  him  that  the  Indians  were 
friendly,  and  that  they  liked  to  have  a  visit 
from  their  white  neighbors. 

Harry  now  observed  for  the  first  time  the 
buttons  on  the  coarse  hunting  coat  worn  by 
the  Captain,  and  that  they  were  stamped 


i 


'li 


oi 


AND  HIS  FAMILY. 


17 


t 


^4 


with  the  form  of  the  eagle,  and  with  figures 
and  marks  that  he  did  not  understand. 

^'Why  do  you  wear  such  buttons,"  said 
Harry,  ''and  what  is  the  meaning  of  these 
figures  and  marks  upon  them]" 

'il  once  belonged,"  said  the  Captain,  "to 
the  21st.  Regiment,  and  these  are  the  but- 
tons I  wore  on  my  coat  at  the  battle  of 
Lundy's  Lane.  I  have  kept  them  as  one  of 
the  memorials  of  that  bloody  fight." 

**Did  you  get  that  scar  over  the  eye,"  said 
Harry,  ''in  that  battle?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  "that  is  another 
memorial  of  that  day.  It  Was  made  by  a 
cut  from  the  sword  of  a  British  Officer,  and 
but  for  the  leather  fore-piece  of  my  cap 
would  have  proved  fatal." 

The  Captain's  buttons  had  outhved  many 
a  thread-bare  garment,  as  if  that  victory  had 
proved  their  durability.  They  were  in  fact 
the  cause  of  Mr.  Gray  benig  called,  by  his 
neighbors,  the  Captain;  for  he  had  never 
been  promoted  to  that  office.  He  used  to 
say  that  he  always  found  good  fighting  in 
the  ranks. 

Harry  wanted  Mr.  Gray  to  tell  him  about 

2* 


PHP 


18 


CAPTAIN   GRAY 


the  battle.  He  asked  him  a  great  many 
questions  as  to  the  cause  of  the  war,  and  the 
number  of  men  in  the  opposing  armies,  the 
names  of  the  officers  and  the  number  of  the 
killed  and  wounded.  To  all  these  inquiries 
the  Captain  replied  that  he  would  relate  the 
whole  to  him;  and  pointing  to  the  West  in 
the  direction  of  a  great  cloud,  he  told  Harry 
it  was  made  by  the  mist  from  the  Falls  of 
Niagara. 

**It  was  within  the  sound  of  the  cataract, 
and  almost  under  the  droppings  of  that 
cloud,''  said  he,  *Hhat  the  fight  was." 

Harry  waited  for  the  Captain  to  proceed. 

"Listen!"  said  the  Captain. 

Harry  almost  shuddered  at  the  stillness, 
and  then  he  heard  a  low  murmuring  sound, 
and  he  thought  it  was  the  voice  of  battle  or 
the  groans  of  dying  men. 

*'That  sound,"  said  the  Captain,  **is  the 
voice  of  the  cataract.  While  we  are  view- 
ing the  fields  of  battle  we  can  see  this  also." 

All  this  was  very  agreeable  as  well  as  ex- 
citing to  the  mind  of  Harry,  and  he  would 
have  prolonged  the  conversation,  but  the  day 
was  wearing  away,  and  they  were  willing 


AND  HIS   FAMILY. 


10 


to  return  to  the  house.  Harry  West  had  a 
new  field  of  study  and  thought  opened  to  his 
mind  that  day.  His  coiisins  smiled  to  see 
how  he  was  excited  on  what  to  them  had 
become  familiar  themes. 

"Well  Harry,"  said  Lucy,  "when  do  you 
go  to  the  riverf' 

"To-morrow,"  said  he,  "we  shall  visit 
Queenston." 

"You  must  go  to  Fort  Niagara  too,"  said 
Lucy. 

"And  to  Chippewa,"  said  Alice. 

"And  to  Lundy's  Lane,  and  the  Devil's 
Hole,"  said  Charles. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  "we  shall  visit  all 
these  places;  and  if  Harry  and  Charles  have 
enough  of  the  soldier  about  them  to  take  a 
longer  march  we  will  go  to  Fort  Erie  too." 

This  conversation  was  kept  up  for  sometime 
with  a  new  interest,  for  Alice  and  Lucy  had 
been  anxiously  waiting  their  return  to  the 
house;  and  their  minds  had  been  treasuring  up 
during  the  day  topics  of  conversations  for  the 
amusement  of  Harry.  All  were  happy  as  the 
full  enjoyments  of  the  present,  and  the  confi- 
dent hopes  of  the  future,  cpu)^  make  them, 
and  the  evening  passed  pleasautiy  away. 


II 


I 


li' 


CHAPTER  II. 

AFAIRMORNINQ,  BUTAWETDAY. 

The   next    morning   active   preparations 
were  making  for  a  trip  to  the   heights  of 
Queenston.     The  manner  of  travelling  was 
first  to  be  considered.     Charles  had  proposed 
to  his  father  that  they  should  go  on  horse- 
back.    But  the  Captain  objected  to  this  that 
there  were  three  to  go,  and  they  had  but 
two  horses.     Charles  was  about  to  remove 
this  difficulty  by  telling  his  father  of  the  gen- 
tleness of  an  unbroken  colt  that  he  thought 
he  could  ride,  when  another  plan  was  pro- 
posed.    Lucy  thought  it  would  be  better  to 
go  in  a  wagon,  when  she  and  her  sister  Al- 
ice could  be  of  the  party.     Harry  would 
have  given  his  voice  in  favor  of  this  plan, 
had  not  Mrs.  Gray  interposed,  when  he  saw 
the  impropriety  of  leaving  his  Aunt  alone 
and  remained  silent.    It  was  now  the  Cap- 
tain s  turn,  and  he  decided,  very  unexpectedly 
to  ah,  to  go  on  foot.     Harry  and  Charles 


I 


l"-;"!-''^'-  — -j^-v.  -  .-. 


A  FAIR  MORNING,  BUT  A  WET  DAY.  21 

could  make  no  objection  to  this  for  thev 
knew  that  Captain  Gray  had  not  only  travel- 
ied  greater  distances  a  thousand  times  before 
but  that  he  had  carried  his  knapsack  and 
his  musket  at  the  same  time,  and  that  too 
through  frost  and  snow,  when  the  country 
was  threatened  by  an  invading  army;  and 
l^ucy  and  Alice  were  put  to  silence  by  a 
look  of  command  from  their  mother. 

To  falter  now  at  the  thought  of  a  few 
miles  travel  would  have  been  unworthy  of 
young  men  in  the  company  of  an  old  soldier. 
This   question   being   settled,  the  line    of 
march  was  soon  decided  on  by  the  Captain. 
His  farm  lay  upon  that  elevated  plain  which 
spreads  out  from  the  high  banks  of  the  Ni- 
agara  below  the   cataract,   and   terminates 
abruptly  in  a  precipitous  declivity  which  ex- 
tends from  the  banks  of  the  river  opposite  to 
Queenston,   for    many   miles    to    the' east. 
Iheir  path  lay  along  the  border  of  this  de- 
clivity, and  the  Captain,  disliking  the  dust  of 
the  highway,  soon  turned  aside  into  an  open 
held,  skirted  by  woods  on  the  right.     They 
pursued  their  way  in  a  westerly  direction 
sometimes  in  the  clearings,  and  sometimes 


.n 


A  FAIR  MORMNG, 


,^       I 


if^ 


^ 


through  forests  of  largo  trees  and  a  liglit 
iiriJ^T-growth  of  siiinbs,  Harry  and  Charles 
hardly  keeping  pace  with  iie  Captain,  for 
the  distance  of  several  miles,  when  they 
came  to  an  opening  in  the  woods  which  en- 
abled them  to  overlook  the  beautiful  plain 
below,  stretching  far  to  the  northward. 

The  prospect  here  opened  was  such  as 
would  have  given  pleasure  to  the  most  mod- 
erate admirers  of  the  beauties  of  nature. 
Broad  fields  were  seen  reaching  to  the 
distant  woods  on  the  north  and  on  the 
east.  Flocks  were  roaming  in  their  pasture 
grounds  and  farm  houses  and  barns  lifted  up 
their  heads  in  the  distance,  and  men  were 
gathering  in  the  ripened  corn.  Here  a  halt 
was  made  and  the  Captain  pointed  to  the 
various  localities  which  had  been  familiar 
to  him  before  the  forest  had  disappeared. 

"Along  the  foot  of  yonder  declivity,"  said 
he,  "till  within  a  few  years,  was  afway,-;  a 
deer  path  in  winter.  They  used  to  go  to 
lick  at  a  spring  that  boiled  up  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill.  ^n*ore  you  see  that  large  stump 
yonder^th^  '-vcr,  a  large  oak,  was  then 
standing—.!  u.-u  to  ti...e  my  stand,  and  I 


BUT  A  WET   DAY. 


23 


a  light 
Charles 
ain,  for 
n  they 
lich  en- 
il  plain 
1. 

uch  as 
it  mod- 
lature. 
to  the 
)n  the 
)asture 
ted  up 
1  were 
a  halt 
to  the 
Lmiliar 
id. 


7? 


saiu 


'ay::  a 
go  to 
bot  of 
stump 
then 
and  I 


rarely  failed  to  bring  down  ..  large  buck  if 
any  came  that  way.  When  we  were  not 
confident  of  finding  them  in  this  way,  it  was 
usual  for  some  of  the-  party  to  go  to  their 
haunts  in  tlie  woods,  and  by  the  aid  of  dogs 
turn  them  in  this  direction,  when  others  ly- 
ing in  wait  would  bring  them  down." 

^'And  are  there  no  deer  in  these  parts 
now?"  asked  Harry. 

"But  few,"  said  the  Captain.  *The  woods 
are  so  much  cleared  up  that  their  haunts  are 
removed  to  a  distance  of  several  miles." 

*'I  should  like,"  said  Harry,  ^'to  go  on  a 
deer  hunt;  I  think  it  would  be  fine  sport." 

"If  you  will  stay  with  us  till  the  first  light 
snow  falls,"  said  Charles,  "we  will  go  and  you 
shall  see  how  it  is  done." 

"I  don't  understand  the  use  of  the  rifle," 
said  Harry,  "and  I  could  only  look  on." 

"You  must  have  one  with  you,"  said 
Charles.  ''We  will  practice  by  shooting  at 
a  mark  before  we  go." 

"And  how,"  said  the  Captain,  "would»you 
like  to  be  overtaken  by  the  darkness  of  night, 
at  too  great  a  distance  from  home  to  be  able 
to  reach  it,  after  having  hunt(^d  all  da"  and 
found  no  game?" 


1  fit 


> 

< 


t 


■f 


»■ 


24 


A  PAIK    MORNING, 


This 


^'^^O'net'ung  Harry  had  not  thoudit 

o^  and  he  asked  the  Captam  how  in  such  a 
case  he  would  spend  the  night. 

"O,"  said  the  Captain,  "the  hunter's  bed  is 
soon  made.  With  steel  and  flint  which  every 
hunter  carries   and  by  the  aid  of  such  dry 

mat  "7.^"  ^1^°""^'  ^  fire  would  soon  be 
made,  and  if  he  has  nothing  to  eat  he  sings  the 
jnemer.  Then  from  the  boughs  of  the  hem- 
lock or  cedar  a  bed  is  made,  and  by  the  light 
of  the  stars  he  goes  to  his  rest." 

They  were  now  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
nver,  and  as  they  pursued  their  way,  thev 
came  to  a  pass  that  led  in  an  oblique  direct 
tion  down  the  mountain. 

" Jl^T"  '??u  '^^  ^^"P*"'"'  ^g^'"  halting, 
was  the  path  by  which  the  Indians  and  the 
totish  spies  used  to  pass  in  going  from  Fort 
Niagara  to  Schlosser.     This  was%he  course 
taken  by  some  of  the  British  in  their  march 
from  Fort  Niagara,  after  the  surprise  of  that 
lortress  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  De- 
cemb,«.  1813.     You  see  that  little    church 
with  a  steeple  yonder.     That  is  the  meeting 
house  m  the  Tuscarora  Village.    These  Indi- 
ans came  from   North  Carolina  about  the 


BUT  A  WET   DAY. 


25 


year  1712,  and  joined  the  confederacy  of  the 
Five  Nations,  (or  the  Iroquois  as  they  were 
called  by  the  French,)  which  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Six  Nations.  There  is  a  Mis- 
sionary there  who  preaches  to  them." 

'^Does  he  preach  in  the  Indian  languacre?" 
asked  Harry.  ® 

**No,'^  said  the  Captain,  ^^he  preaches  to 
them  m  English,  and  one  of  the  Chiefs  inter- 
prets or  translates  the  prayers  and  the  sermon 
into  the  Indian   language,  so  that  they  are 
understood  by  the  rest  of  the  tribe.     Some 
of  the  Indians  have  embraced  the   christian 
religion,    but  most  of  them  are  still  pagans. 
They  hear  the  voice  of  the  Great  Spirit  in 
the  winds  and  the  thunder,  and  they  see  the 
glance  of  his  eye  in  the  flash  of  the  lightning. 
Sometimes  they  think  that  he  sits  upon  the 
brink  of  the  cataract,  and  that  the  spray  that 
rises  from  the  dashing  of  its  waters,  is  the 
smoke  that  ascends  from  the  fires  kindled  by 
his  anger  in  the  deep  caverns  formed  by  the 
overhanging  rocks." 

The  fears  that  Harry  had  of  visiting  this 
wonderful  people,  had  been  entirely  removed 

bv  tnf>     uaanr-nnnnc,   ^C    ^U 


iitviiWUD    KJX       lliU      C 


8 


apiain,   and  the 


fllf 


7 


I 


:  I 


!  i 


26 


A  FAIR  MORNING, 


stones  he  had  heard  of  them  from  Charles 
and  Lucy  Gray.  He  now  thought  that  a 
visit  to  them  would  please  him  quite  as  well 
as  a  trip  to  Queenston. 

"The  British,"  continued  the  Captain,  "and 
the  Indians  m  their  service,  after  the  surprise 
of  Niagara^  of  which  I  have  told  you,  n,arch- 
ed  to  the  Tuscarora  Village,  and  burnt  all  of 
their  houses,  and  killed  some  of  their  men. 

1  Tm       ^^^  '^''"''"■^'  «''"'  their  women 
and  children,  fled  to  the  woods.     After  the 
work  of  destruction  was  done,  and  the  main 
body  of  the  British  had  ascended  the  moun- 
tain through  this  pass,  a  few  of  the  Tuscarora 
warriors  crept  from  their  hiding  places,  and 
took  their  stations  behind  the  trees  and  rocks 
on  either  side,  for  the  purpose  of  picking  oil' 
any   stragglers   that   should   be  behind  the 
mam  body. 

"After  waiting  there  several  hours,  a  small 
party  of  about  a  dozen  British  soldiers,  who 
had  mgered  behind  the  rest,  for  the  purpose 
0.  plunder,  entered  th,  pass.  The  Indian 
always  lies  with  his  eye  upon  his  gun,  and  at 
a  signal  which  was  given,  they  all  fired. 
Wear  half  their  number  fell,  and  the  rest 


BUT  A  WET    DAY. 


27 


'  i 


turned  and  ran  down  the  hill,  affrighted  at  the 
terrible  war  whoop  of  the  Tuscaroras.  The 
Indians  pursued,  and  but  few  of  the  British 
soldiers  escaped  from  the  shower  of  bullets 
and  arrows." 

*'What,"  said  Harry,  "became  of  the  white 
mhabitants  at  this  time?" 

^'They  too  fled,"  said  the  Captain.  "The 
inhabitants  of  Lewiston  were  driven  from 
their  homes  at  the .  same  time,  and  the 
village  was  burnt.  Most  of  them  made 
their  escape  from  the  town  before  the  British 
entered.  One  man,  after  he  had  left  his 
house,  thought  of  a  gun  he  had  left  behind 
and  going  back  after  it,  he  was  shot  dead 
just  as  he  was  leaving  his  house." 

While  these  stories  were  occupying  the 
attention  of  our  travellers,  almost  unperceiv- 
ed  by  them,  the  sky  was  overcast  by  dark 
clouds  that  threatened  a  sudden  shower 
The  practiced  eye  of  the  Captain  was  not 
deceived.  He  had  been  too  long  accustomed 
to  watch  the  signs  of  the  weather  to  be  un- 
mindful of  them. 
^'1  am  afraid  we 


//mi 


I  iiat 


ihall  gei  wet,"  said  Harry. 
Jiiay  be,"  said  the  Captain,  "and 


38 


A  PAIK  MORNmo, 


though  I  would  rather  avoid  it  if  I  can  1 
have  seen  too  much  of  rough  weather  to  be 
much  alarmed  at  the  prospect." 

They  paused  a  moment  to  consider  wheth- 
er they  would  retrace  their  steps  and  gain 
the  nearest  house,  or  push  on  to  the  Indian 
village.     But  the  storm  was  nearer  at  hand 
than  they  had  at  first  imagined.     There  was 
near  by,  a  projecting  cliff  of  rock  which  might 
protect  them  from  the  storm.     Tliat  might 
be  gained,  but  all  other  shelters  were,  too 
distant    The  decision  was  made,  and  with 
hasty  step  they  flew  to  it,  and  took  refuge 
there.     Prom  out  this  nook  they  could  see 
the  smoke  from  the  Indian  huts.     The  rain 
seemed  resolved  to  put  a  stop  to  the  further 
march  of  the  travellers  for  that  day.     The 
Captain  consoled  his  young  companions  bv 
telling  them  that  he  saw  signs  that  the  storm 
would  soon  cease.     The  rain,  however,  con- 
tinued till  nearly  dusk.     It  was  too  far  to 
thmk  of  gaining  their  home  that  ni.rht.     To 
stay  under  the  cliff,  and  without  eve°n  a  blan- 
ket to  cover  them,  was  not  a  very  comforta- 
ble thought  to  Charles  and  Harry;  and  the 
Captain  had  been  so  Inr,n.  .,p.,„„j  ^.     ..  i 


'nMMMMM 


BUT  A  WET,  DAY. 


29 


I  can,  1 
er  to  be 

•  wheth- 
nd  gain 

Indian 
at  hand 
3re  was 
^  might 

might 
jre.  too 
d  with 
refuge 
lid  see 
le  rain 
^urther 
The 
•ns  bv 
storm 
r,  con- 
far  to 
.     To 
.  bJan- 
iforta- 
id  the 

such 


I 


exposures,  that  he  would  avoid  it  if  possible- 
"We  have  the  flint  and  steel,"  said  Harry, 

"let  us  strike  afire." 
"No  wood  can  be  found,"  said  the  Captain, 

"that  is  not  either  green  or  drenched  with 

rain." 

What  then  was  to  be  done,  if  they  could 
neither  make  a  fire  nor  pass  the  night  without? 
"It  IS  scarcely  more  than  a  mile,"  said  the 
Captain,  "to  the  Indian  village.     The  Chiefs 
are  well  known  to  me,  and  they  have  always 
treated  me  like  a  friend  and  a  brother.     In 
their  huts  we  might  find  shelter  for  the  night." 
"Then  Harry,"  said  Charles,  "you  will 
have  a  good  chance  to  see  something  of  the 
Indian  character." 

Harry  was  rather  afraid  to  be  quite 'so 
familiar  with  them  on  his  first  visit,  as  to 
stay  all  night;  but  his  desire  not  to  be  thought 
wanting  in  courage,  kept  him  from  making 
any  objection.  Accordingly  they  were  soon 
on  their  way  to  the  village.  As  it  was  now 
fast  growing  dark,  and  they  were  making 
their  way  through  the  thicket  that  covered 
the  steep  side  of  they  hill  the  were  descending 

vas  an  unpleasant 


3* 


f! 


K    f 


30 


A  PAIR  MORNING, 


ending  of  a  day  so  happily  begun.     But  the 
descent  was  soon  made,  and  they  came  out 
into  a  clearing,  through  which  lay  their  path. 
As  he  was  trudging  on  in  silence,  a  new 
thought  entered  the  mind  of  Harry.     For 
the  first  time  he  began  to  think  of  those  who 
would  be  watching  for  their  return.     The 
form  of  Lucy  Gray  was  present  to  his  imagi- 
nation.   He  felt  disappointed  in  not  being  able 
that  night,  to  recount  to  her  the  adventures 
of  the  day.     He  thought  he  could  see  that 
the  morning  smile  with  which  he  left  her, 
had  gone  from  her  face.     He  feared  that  her 
young  heart  would  grow  sad,  as  the  evening 
wore  away,  and  she  watched  for  their  coming. 
He  fancied  that  she  would  be  going  to  the 
door,  or  looking  out  of  the  window,  and  lis- 
tening for  the  sound  of  their  footsteps.     Why 
he  did  not  think  of  her  mother  and  her  sister 
Alice,  is  not  known.     He  would  sometimes 
imagine  she  was  in  danger;  but  his  judgment 
told  him  she  was  in  a  place  of  security.     But 
then,  if  safe  herself,  she  would  be  anxious  for 
him.     But  he  behoved,  and  in  this  he  trusted 
to  the  Captain,  that  he  too  would  be  safe. 
His  feelings  were  strange,  and  to  him  inde- 


45 


I 


'*, 


L 


BUT  A  WET   DAY. 


31 


But  the 
lame  out 
eir  path. 
,  a  new 
y.     For 
lose  who 
n.     The 
is  imagi- 
;ing  able 
ventures 
see  that 
eft  her, 
that  her 
evening 
coming. 
I  to  the 
and  Jis- 
Why 
r  sister 
letimes 
dgment 
.    But 
ous  for 
trusted 
e  safe. 
1  inde- 


finable; ye.t  they  were  what  every  one  will, 
at  some  time  of  life,  experience,  and  will  know 
the  cause  of  their  existence,  but  Harry  West 
as  yet  knew  not  how  to  explain  them. 

The  silence  of  the  travellers,  as  they  were 
picking  their  way  along  in  the  dark,   was 
broken  by  the  voice  of  the  Captain. 
'*We  shall  soon  be  there,"  said  he. 
"Will  not  our  absence  cause  anxiety  on 
our  account  at  home?"  asked  Harry. 

The  Captain  was  accustomed  to  the  calcu- 
lation of  chances,  and  he  knew  that  his  family 
understood  the  force  and  effect  of  circum- 
stances;  and  he  told  Harry  that  the  severe 
storm  that  had  lasted  through  the  afternoon, 
would  show  to  them  that  it  was  impossible 
they   could   accomplish   their  purpose   that 
day,  and  yet  that  they  must  have  advanced 
so  far  before  the  rain  came  on,    that  they 
could  not  return.     Thus  he  concluded  that 
the  cause  of  their  absence  would  be  under- 
stood. 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  village, 
and  the  Captain  led  the  way  to  the  house  of 
one  of  the  Chiefs.  Their  approach  was  her- 
-i^>.u  ^j  ,n^  Dai  jiuig  01  a  iiuie  indian  dog, 


in  k 
1    . 


ti 


32 


A  PAIR  MORNING, 


and  they  were  met  at  the  door  hy  the  Chief 
himself.     Tile  Captain  gave  the  evening  sal- 
utation  in  the  Indian  tongue,  and  the  Chief 
received  them  with  great  kindness  into  his 
hut.     He  was  a  tall,  well  made  man,  with  an 
eye  that  would  match  the  eagle's  in  looking 
at  the  sun.     He    had  such  power  and  skill 
with  the  bow,  that  he  could  send  the  arrow 
quite  through  the  body  of  the  deer.     He  had 
just  returned  from  the  chase,  and  his  wife 
and  two  young  Indian  girls  were  preparing 
parts  of  the  venison  he  had  taken  for  drying, 
while  a  young  boy  was  hardening  the  points 
of  some  arrows  in  the  hot  embers  that  were 
smouldering   upon  the  hearth.     The  hut  of 
the  Indian  is  always  the  house  of  hospitality 
A  sign  made  by  the  Chief  to  his  wife,  accom^ 
panied  by  a  guttural  sound,  was  understood 
by  her,  and  soon  the  appetites  of  our  travel- 
ers were  sharpened  by  the  savory  smell  of 
broilling  venison. 

When  the  repast  was  over,  pipes  were 
offered,  and  the  Chief  and  the  Captain  again 
renewed  their  promises  of  friendship,  and 
Charles  and  Harry  understood  from  the  look 
/of  the  Captain,  that  the  ChiVf  Pvn^nf^^  *u 


BUT  A  M  ET   DAY. 


he  Chief 
ling  saJ- 
le  Chief 
into  his 
with  an 
looking' 
nd  skill 
'■  arrow 
He  had 
lis  wife 
sparing 
drying, 
>  points 
t  were 
hut  of 
itality. 
iccom- 
;rstood 
travel- 
nell  of 

were 

again 
5,  and 
e  look 

!     4'r*^^*f*^ 


88 


.       also  to  smoke  with  him  the  pipe  of  peace 
This  they  did,   and  the  bond  of  friendship 
'        was  made  perfect. 

On  a  bear  skin,  and  in  an  Indian  hut,  Harry 
went  to  rest,   but  not  to  sleep,   that  night. 
He  knew  he  was  in  a  place  of  the  greatest 
security,  but  the  scene  was  new  to  him,  and 
visions  of  tomahawks   and  murdered   men 
floated  before  his  imagination.     He  saw  long 
lines  of  Indian   warriors  come  out  of  the 
woods  with  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives, 
and  bend  their  course  to  some  peaceful  set- 
tlement.    He  fancied  that  he  saw  them  re- 
turn  with  the  scalps  of  men,  women   and 
children.     To  his  excited  vision,  their  path 
I        seemed  to  be  traced  with  blood.     The  rest 
'       of  Charles  was  less  disturbed  by  these  fancies, 
and  the  Captain  was  not  at  all  afl^ected  by 
them.     Harry   remembers,    and   repeats  to 
L       this  day,  with  an  almost  fearful  accuracy 
f       the  story  of  the   first  night  passed  in  the 
hut  of  the  Tuscarora  Chief. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  DAY  WITH  THE  TUSCARORAS. 

_   At  the  first  appearance  of  morning,  the 
Indians  as  weJl  as  our  travellers,  were  stir- 
ring.     Harry  was  anxious  to  take  a  survey 
of  the  village;  and  the  little   party,    after 
maknig  a  breakfast  of  hominy  and  venison 
accompanied  by  the  Chief,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal huts,  after  which   some  of  the  young 
Indians  showed  them  some  feats  of  skill  with 
the  bow  and  arrow,  and  various  other  sports. 
They  were  now  ready  to  proceed  on  their 
journey,  but  it  so  happened  that  on  that  day 
the  Tuscaroras  and  the  Mohawks,  one  of  the 
six  nations,  which  at  this  time  occupied  a 
small  district  on  Grand  River,  in  Upper  Can- 
ada,  were  to  have  a  trial  of  their  skill  in  a 
game  of  ball,  and  the  Chief  invited  them  to 
stay  through  day,  and  see  the  sport.     Charles 
and  the  Captain,  who  had  set  out  on  this  ex- 
pedition for  the  amusement  of  Harry,  sub- 
mitted to  him  whether  they  should  stay  and 


A  DAY  WITH  THE  TUSCARORAS.  39 

see  the  game,  or  go  on  to  the  river.  Harry 
at  once  decided  in  favor  of  seeing  the  contest 
among  the  Indians. 

This  game  was  a  kind  of  annual  festival, 
and  the  contest  was  always  between  an  equal 
number  of  young  Indians,  selected  from  dif- 
erent  nations.     Sometimes  it  took  place  at 
the  village  of  the  Mohawks,  but  it  was  now 
to  bo  on  a  level  plain  near  the  village  of  the 
Tuscaroras.      The   Mohawks   had   not  yet 
made  their  appearance.     The  young  braves 
who  were  selected  on  the  part  of  the  Tus- 
caroras, had  retired  to  a  thicket  near  by,  for 
the  purpose  of  painting  their  bodies  and  ar- 
raymg  themselves  for  the  contest. 

While  these  preparations  were  going  on 
another  set  of  young  Inditms  were  trying 
their  skill  in  throwing  a  kind  of  rod  or  arrow 
by  the  hand.     Each  had  a  number  of  rods  of 
the  size  of  a  man's  finger,  and  five  or  six  feet 
m  length.     A   mark   was   make    upon  the 
ground,  and  one  of  them,  advancing  to  the 
line,  extended  his  right  foot  forward  so  as  to 
rest  his  heel  upon  the  ground,  the  toe  pointing 
upwards;  and  then  with  his  right  hand,  taking 
-e  rod  near  one  end,  and  with  a  quick  bend 


Ml 


^\ 


36 


A   DAY   WITH 


of  the  body  that  cannot  be  described,  he 
brings  the  rod  in  a  nearly  horizontal  position 
down  to  a  level  with  his  foot,  and  striking  it, 
at  the  same  tinne  that  he  gives  it  a  forward 
motion,  across  his  instep,  so  as  to  give  it  an 
upward  inclination,  it  speeds  away  with  the 
swiftness  of  an  arrow  to  an  almost  incredible 
distance.  He  who  gained  the  greatest  dis- 
tance  in  an  equal  number  of  throws,  was 
pronounced  the  victor. 

The  party  of  the  Mohawks  had  arrived 
the  day  before,  and  had  encamped  on  the 
side  of  a  hill,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  plain, 
where  the  game  was  to  take  place.     Nothing 
had  been  seen  of  them  that  day,  till  from  an 
opening  in  the  trees  that  concealed  their  en- 
campment from  the  view  of  the  Tuscaroras, 
the  party  of  the  Mohawks  made  their  ap- 
pearance.    First   came  the   chiefs   and  old 
men,  then  the  players  selected  for  the  occa- 
sion, followed  by  others  of  their  nation,  and 
lastly,  a  throng  of  women  and  children.     At 
the  sight  of  this  troop,  which  came  streaming 
down  the  hill  in  Indian  file,  the  Tuscarora 
players  issued  from  their  covert  in  the  woods, 
and  the  women  and  children  that  were  not 


d 


THE  TUSCARORAS. 


87 


ribed,  he 
I  position 
;riking  it, 
forward 
jive  it  an 
with  the 
^credible 
test  dis- 
ws,  w^as 

arrived 
I  on  the 
he  plain, 
Nothing 
from  an 
their  en- 
icaroras, 
heir  ap- 
and  old 
le  occa- 
on,  and 
en.  At 
reaming 
isearora 

woods, 
ere  not 


already  on  the  ground,  poured  out  of  their 
huts  and  joined  the  motley  throng. 

The  Mohawks  were  led  by  a  stately  young 
Chief,  who  announced  their  approach  by  a 
whoop,  which  had  rather  the  sound  of  frolic 
and  mirth,  than  the  terrible  notes  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  utter  as  the  prelude  of 
war.  This  wa§  answered  by  a  similar  shout 
from  the  Tuscaroras.  The  opposing  bands 
marched  to  the  sound  of  a  kind  of  rattle, 
made  of  deers'  hoofs,  accompanied  sometimes 
as  by  a  chant  from  their  voices;  and  took 
their  respective  stations  upon  the  ground. 

Their  appearance  was,  to  those  unaccus- 
tomed to  the  forms  of  savage  life,  grotesque 
in  the  extreme.  They  had  disencumbered 
themselves  of  every  article  of  clothing,  ex- 
cept a  single  garment  like  an  apron  or' kilt, 
fastened  around  the  waist,  and  descending 
nearly  to  the  knee;  and  their  bodies  were 
painted  with  various  gaudy  colors.  A  bright 
red  or  vermilhon,  seemed  to  be  a  favorite 
with  them.  On  their  heads  most  of  them 
wore  a  bunch  of  feathers.  Some  were  those 
of  the  bald  Eagle,  their  natural  color,  and 
w-me  were  i^^t^a  a  ungni  red.     This  was  tho 


38 


A  DAY  WITH 


■     5' 


Strange  toilet  made  by  the  children  of  the 
forest  for  their  hohday  sports. 

The  field  marked  out  for  the  game  was 
designated  by  two  sets  of  "byes,"    placed 
about  two  hundred  yards  distant  from  each 
other,  the  goals  forming  each  set  of  "byes  " 
being  about  thirty  feet  apart,  and  arranged 
in  lines  parallel  with  each  other.     The  par- 
ties were  placed  on  each  side  of  a  line  drawn 
in  the  middle  between  the  two  sets  of  ''byes  " 
Each   player  had  a  club  or  bat,   about  four 
feet   long,    having  at  the  end  a  bow,   which 
was  interwoven   with    leather   thongs,    like 
basket  work,  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of 
an  Indian  Snow-Shoe.     With  this  the  bail 
which  was  about  the  size  of  the  ball  com- 
monly thrown  and  caught  by  the  hand,  was 
carried  or  knocked,  as  the  case  required. 

Near  the  centre  line,  on  one  side  of  the 
field,  was  a  small  party  of  Indians,  selected 
partly  from  bo^h  nations,  with  knives  and 
tally-sticks  to  score  the  game.  It  was  one 
of  the  rules  of  the  game,  that  the  ball  wa- 
not  to  be  touched  by  the  hand,  except  when 
It  has  been  driven  beyond  the  "byes,"  when 
it  may  be  again  thrown  into  the  centre. 


THE  TUSCARORAS. 


39 


I  of  the 

me^  was 
placed 
om  each 
"byes,'' 
irranged 
rhe  par- 
e  drawn 
"byes." 
>ut  four 
,  which 
?s,  like 
shion  of 
he  bail, 

II  com- 
nd,  was 
red. 

of  the 
selected 
^es  and 
^as  one 
all  wa? 
t  when 
'  when 


.1 


i 


i 
-f 


The  parties  being  readv,  and  standing  on 
their  respective  sides  of  the  line,  a  beautiful 
Indian  maiden,  decorated  with  a  head  dress 
of  Eagles'  feathers,  and  glittering  with  beads 
and  ornaments  of  silver,  came  bounding  into 
the  area  with  the  ball  in  her  hand,  like  Venus 
with  the  golden  apple.  Harry  recognized  in 
her  the  daughter  of  the  Indian  Chief,  under 
whose  hospitable  roof  he  had  passed  the 
night.  She  was  selected  to  perform  this 
office,  as  a  compliment  paid  by  the  Mohawks 
to  the  head  Chief  of  the  Tuscaroras. 

The  maiden  threw  the  ball  high  in  the  air, 
and  skipped  gaily  away  to  join  her  compan- 
ions. A  shout  burst  forth  from  the  multitude, 
and  the  play  began.  Now  came  the  struggle 
for  mastery.  It  was  the  aim  of  each  party 
to  drive  the  bnl)  beyond  the  bounds  on  the 
resoective  sides  of  the  line.  Before  it  had 
reached  the  ground,  it  was  struck  by  one  of 
the  parly,  and  sent  far  to  the  northward  of 
the  line.  Then  came  a  general  scamper  in 
the  direction  of  the  ball,  one  party  striving 
to  send  it  still  farther  towards  the  northern 
bound,  and  the  other  to  force  it  back  across 
the  line,  and  if  possible  to  the  opposite  bound. 


■ssma 


40 


A  DAY  WITH 


lif 


It  had  been  struck  with  such  force,  that  none 
could  reach  it,  before  it  fell  to  the  ground. 
Now  one  has  it  on  his  club,  but  before  he 
can  toss  it  in  the  air  so  as  to  give  it  a  blow, 
one  of  his  opponents  has  struck  his  club,  and 
sent  it  in  a  contrary  direction.     Now  another 
has  it  on  his  club,  and  is  running  as  if  for  life, 
to  gain   ground  enough  to  give  it  a   blow! 
He  has  tossed  it  up,  but  another  at  a  lucky 
moment,    has   got  the  first    blow,   and  it  is 
speeding  away  with  the  swiftness  of  a  bird. 
Every  one  is  put  to  the  trial  of  speed  as  well 
as  of  skill,  and  if  any  one  can  trip  up,  or  push 
aside  his  competitor  in  the  race,  it  is  thought 
fair  pla}^  and  is  in  fact,  a  part  of  the  game. 
The  party  which  first  drives  the  ball  beyond 
the  bounds  a  certain  number  of  times,  wins 
the  game.     Many  were  the  laughable  tum- 
bles made  that  day,  by  some  of  the  less  active 
players. 

Harry  enjoyed  the  sport  much,  and  enter- 
ed into  the  spirit  and  excitement  of  the  game 
to  such  a  degree,  that  he  almost  forgot  the 
object  with  which  he  set  out  the  day  before. 

*' What  a  noble  looking  fellow,"  said  Harry, 
''is  that  young  Mohawk  Chief." 


THE  TUSCARORAS. 


that  none 
9  ground, 
before  he 
t  a  blow, 
club,  and 
V  another 
if  for  life, 
a  blow, 
t  a  lucky 
and  it  is 
)f  a  bird, 
d  as  well 
,  or  push 
i  thought 
le  game. 
1  beyond 
es,  wins 
ble  tum- 
ss  active 

d  enter- 
le  game 
•got  the 

before. 

Harry, 


41 


*'I  have  a  story  to  tell  you  of  him,"  said 
the  Captain,  "but  I  can't  tell  it  now.  It  will 
not  do  to  let  the  Indians  see  that  we  are 
talking  about  them,  or  that  we  are  thinkin^'* 
of  any  thing  else  than  the  game." 

When  the  play  was  ended,  which  was  not 

till  near  nightfjill,  the  parties  gave  themselves 

up  to  feasting  and  jesting   and    merriment. 

The    Captain  was  so  well   known  to  them, 

that  his  presence  did  not    seem  to  produce 

any  restraint  upon  their  actions;  and  Harry 

and  Charles  were  so  far   initiated   into  the 

mysteries  of  Indian  sports,  that  the  prospect 

of  spending  another  night  there,  gave  them 

less  anxiety  than  on  the  day  before.     The 

Captain   had  taken  the   precaution  to   send 

word  to  his  family  by  a  passing  traveller,  that 

their  journey  had  been  delayed,  and  that  they 

should  be  absent  at  least  two  days   longer 

than  they  expected,  when  they  set  out. 

In  the  progress  of  the  game,  those  who 
seemed  to  have  the  advantage,  were  applaud- 
ed by  the  by-standers,  especially  by  the 
women;  and  the  party  that  seemed  likely  to 
be  defeated,  were  encouraged  to  new  exer- 
tions.    The   Mohawks  had  won  the  game, 

4^' 


^^^H 

'       f 

^^^^B  ' 

^^^^^^^^^H 

^^^^^^^H 

J 

^^H 

1 

^^^^^1 

^^H 

'     1       ■ 

i 
i 

^^^H 

^^^^^^H 

f  ■  \ 

^^^H 

,        f 

Hi  t 

r      1 

^^H    *i 

: 

^^^^H. 

^^H 
^^^H 

^^^^■1 

P     1    ' 

H^K 

w 

^^^^Dl 

HH  \ 

1 

1 1 

1 

I 

^H 

I^^^H 

• 

^m 

!'l 

^^^^m 

1 
' 

^H^ 

J' 

^^^^^H^Hj 

t 

^^^1  i 

r 

i 

! 

^^^^1 

, 

^m  i 

; 

I^^^^H 

M       i 

^^^^^B 

;  j     1. 

^^H  ] 

■■ 

^I^^^^^^B 

) 

■■r 

\^  i 

■■III 

fji 

1 

1 

42 


A  DAY  WITH 


and  there  was  great  rejoicing  among  the 
victors.  The  vanquished  party,  howieT 
had  no  other,  feeling  than  that  of  a  momenl 
tary  disappointment,  and  a  determination  to 
win  the  next  game;  and  before  they  separ- 
ated the  pipe  of  peace  was  smoked  by  the 
Ch,efs  of  the  tribes,  and  an  offering  of  tobacco 

t  upon  the  fire,  and  the  smoke  that  ascended! 

would       "v    ''u'  '^  """'y   '— '    tha 
would  propitiate  his   favor.     Although  this 

was  a  pagan  ceremony,  those  who  had  em- 
braced the  Christian  reiigion,  had  not  so  fTr 
disconnected  their  spiritual  feelings  from 
«^J.rms,  as  to  make  their  rite^srepul- 

These  games  remind   us  of  the   sacred 

games  of  the  Greeks,  which  were  national 
festivals,  and  served  to  unite  in  a  strong  bond 

Their"'?.     ?    1!''''^"*   ^*^*^«   °f  Greece. 
Their  festivals   began  in  the  evening,  with 

solemn  sacrifice*!  nnri  ^^,^ 
m.      J  *  '^i^'nces.  and  the  games  were  com- 
menced the  next  morning  at  day-break.    Ra- 
.es  on  foot    leaping,    throwing   the   discus, 

:s^4^^^"'^':"^---.--g*hecx: 

"     "•     ■""=  ""nor  oi  Having  gained   the 


^"-^rll|..^jl«g^^  -J  'imniiiiin 


THE  TUSCARORAS. 


43 


imong  the 
however, 
a  momen- 
ination  to 
ey  separ- 
3d  by  the 
>f  tobacco 
sprinkling 
ascended, 
ise,    that 
>ugh  this 
had  em- 
lOt  so  far 
gs    from 
Js  repul- 


victory  in  the  Olympic  games,  was  very 
great.  Jupiter  Olympus  was  said  to  have 
established  them;  Mars  to  have  gained  the 
first  prize  in  boxing,  and  Appollo  to  have 
overcome  Mercury  in  the  race;  while  Her- 
cules was  accustomed  to  crown  the  victors 
with  a  wreath  of  the  olive  or  the  laurel;  the 
ivy  or  the  oak. 


sacred 
national 
ng  bond 
Greece. 
g,  with 
re  com- 
i'     Ra- 
discus, 
the  ex- 
ed  the 


•^ft 


I 


1M 


III 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ATRIP  TO  THE  BATTLE  GROUND, 

The  next  morning  our  travellers  took  leave 
of  their  red  brethren,  and  pursued  their  vi-ay 
Their  path  led  along  near  the  base  of  the 
mountaui  they  had  descended  on  entering  the 
village.     A  half  hour's  travel  brought  them 
to  the  top  of  a  hill  of  moderate  elevation 
Which  overlooked  the  whole  space  between 
them  and  the  Niagara.     On  their  left,  was 
the  mountain  stretching  from  the  shores  of 
the  Niagara  far  to  the  east.     The  trees  upon 
Its  steep   side,  wore  the  reddened   tinge  of 
Autumn,  and  the  sweet  but  saddening  voices 
of  the  birds,  were  mourning  the  dying  beau- 
ties of  summer;  while  on  the  right,  was  that 
variety  of  hill   and   valley,   woodland   and 
meadow,  that  gives  a  beauty  and  a  glory  to 
the   landscape.     The   position  of  the  river 
could  only  be  distinguished  by  the  small  clus- 
ters of  houses,  to  be  seen  on  its  opposite  bank. 
'.■.^,  .^o,  \>un;  picuniy  visible  the  heights  of 


i 


A  TRIP  TO  THE  BATTLE  GROUND.  45 


OUND. 

>ok  leave 
eir  way. 
e  of  the 
'ring  the 
^ht  them 
evation, 
Detween 
3ft,  was 
liores  of 
es  upon 
inge  of 
?  voices 
g  beau- 
^as  that 
id   and 
lory  to 
3  river 
II  clus- 
3  bank. 
2[hts  of 


Queenston,  and  the  monument  erected  to  the 
memory  of  General  Brock,  on  the  summit. 
''There,"  said  the  Captain,  "on  the  top  of 
that  height,  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  1812, 
was  the  first  bloody  fight  that  occurred  upon 
this  frontier.  Near  the  base  of  that  monu- 
ment, fell  the  brave  and  magnanimous  Brit- 
ish General." 

Harry  had  a  feeling  of  wonder  and  strange 
awe,  as  he  looked  upon  the  spot  where  hos- 
tile armies  had  met  in  the  strife  of  battle. 
He  could  scarcely  believe  that  his  eyes  were 
looking  upon  the  teritory  of  a  foreign  power. 
When  he  saw  this  monument  of  a  fallen  hero, 
he  felt  as  if  the  distance  he  had  walked  for 
the  last  half  hour,  had  removed  him  farther 
from  his  home,  than  all  his  former  travels. 
He  felt,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  as  if  he 
was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.     He  had 
heard  of  the  British  lion,  and  he  knew  that  it 
was  only  emblematical  of  the* power  of  Eng- 
land; and  his  heart  was  comforted  when  he 
saw  the  white  headed  Eagle,  the  symbol  of 
American  independence,  soaring   far  above 
the  top  of  that  monument,  that  looked  down 
with  majesty,  but  not  with   defiance,  upon 


46 


A   TRIP  TO   THE 


11!  i!^ 


the  waters  that  divided  the  teritory  of  two 
great  nations. 

''1  had  almost  expected,"  said  Harry,  ,<to 
hear  the  roar  of  the  lion,  but  it  is  more  likely 
now,  that  I  shall  hear  the  scream  of  the  eagle/' 

"You  will  have  to  be  satisfied  with  the 
sight  of  that  noble  bird,  without  hearinrr  his 
voice,"  said  the  Captain.  -Had  you  Ibeen 
here  in  1812,  you  might  have  heard  from 
this  American  bird,  as  well  as  from  the 
British  beast."  ;  * 

"I  now  see,"  said  Harry,  -the  meaning  of 
the  eaglets  image  on  those  buttons." 

^'Yes,"  said  the  Captain;  -and  on  the  day 
of  battle,  you  might  have  seen  the  teror  of 
his  gaze  in  the  glance  of  our  eyes.  The 
soldier  is  eagle-eyed  in  the  hour  of  trial." 

As  they  journeyed  on  down  the  gentle 
slope  that  led  to  the  river,  they  came  to  the 
beautiful  village  of  Lewiston.  It  was  near 
this  spot  that  De  La  Salle  had  driven  a  pal- 
isade, on  his  first  visit  to  the  Niagara,  in 
1678;  and  in  May,  1721,  a  party  came  to  take 
measure  for  a  permanent  settlement.  Among 
them  were  the  son  of  the  Governor  of  New 
France,  De  LongeuiL  from   Montreal,  and 


JATTLE  GROUND. 


47 


►ry  of  two 

Jarry,  /to 
lore  likely 
the  eagle." 
with  the 
earinof  his 
you  been 
(ard  from 
from  the 

leaning  of 

1  the  day 
e  teror  of 
es.      The 
trial." 
\e  gentle 
ne  to  the 
was  near 
'en  a  pal- 
igara,    in 
le  to  take 
Among 
of  New 
•eal,  and 


Charlevoix,  the  best  early  writer  of  American 
History.  Since  that  time,  generations  have 
come  and  passed  away.  Many  comfortable 
dwellings  had  now  risen  from  the  ashes  to 
which  the  town  had  been  reduced  by  the 
British  army. 

"Here,"  said  the  Captain,  "was  the  camp 
of  the  Americans,  before  the  battle  of  Queens- 
ton.  It  consisted  of  some  regulars,  newly 
enlisted,  and  some  militia,  amounting  in  all, 
to  four  thousand  men,  under  General  Van 
Rensselaer.  But  a  few  days  before.  Lieu- 
tenant Elliott,  of  the  navy,  had  attacked  two 
British  vessels  which  were  lying  in  the  Ni- 
agara river,  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie, 
which  was  then  in  possession  of  the  British. 
With  only  fifty  men,  he  had  suddenly  boarded 
and  taken  possession  of  them  in  the  night, 
with  the  loss  of  but  two  of  his  own  men. 
This  brilliant  affair  so  excited  the  ardor  of 
the  Americans,  that  they  demanded  to  be  led 
to  the  invasion  of  Canada." 

^'Queenston,  you  see,"  continued  the  Cap- 
tain, "is  handsomely  situated.     It  is  at  the 
head  of  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Niagara." 
it  does  not  look  xikc  a  place  of  much 
importance  now,"  said  Harry. 


48 


A    TRIP  TO   THE 


*^It  IS  not,"  said  the  Captain;  "but  during 
the  war,  it  was  the  place  of  depot  for  all  the 
merchandize  and  public  stores,  which  were 
brought  to  that  place  from  Kingston;  and  by 
thjs  route  passed  the  supplies  for  Fort  Erie 
and  Maiden;  and  the  merchandize  for  all  the 
country    above    those    places.     They   were 
transported  in  wagons  along  the  portage  to 
Chippewa,  which  was  then  called  Fort  Wel- 
land,  whence  they  were  again  conveved  bv 
water."  "        / 

Harry  now  saw  that  the  possession  of 
Queenston,  was  important  to  the  enemy,  and 
consequently  he  knew  the  object  the  Amer- 
icans had,  in  driving  him  from  it. 

^'General  Van  Rensselaer,"  continued  the 
Captam,  "after  a  conference  with  the  other 
officers,  resolved  to  make  an  attack  upon  the 
heights.     He  had  been   led  to  believe  that 
the  force  of  the'enemy,  had  marched  under 
General  Brock,  to  the  defence  of  Fort  Mal- 
uen.     But  in  this,  it  afterwards  appeared, 
he  was  deceived.     It  was  intended  to  make 
the  attack  on  the  11th  of  October.     At  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  in  the 
midst  of  a  violent  north-east  storm,  the  -as= 
sage  of  the  river  was  attempted. 


Hit 


BATTLE    GROUM). 


49 


3ut  during 
for  all  the 
hich  were 
m;  and  by 
Fort  Erie 
for  all  the 
ley  were 
)ortage  to 
^ort  Wcl- 
veyed  by 

ession  of 
emy,  and 
le  Amer- 

» 
inued  the 
■he  other 
upon  the 
ieve  that 
3d  under 
ort  Mal- 
ppeared, 
to  make 
At  four 
,  in  the 


The  current  of  the  river,   always  swift, 
was  at  this  time  unusually  rapid.     The  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  and  the  driving  storu).  made 
the  attempt  more  porilous.     But  there  were 
stout  hearts  there,  that  neither  iho  storms  of 
the  elements,   nor  of  battle,   could  move  to 
fear.     But   wIkmi   the  detachments  intended 
for  this  service,  were  roused  and  ordered  to 
advance  to  the  river,  it  was  discovered  that 
no  boats  were  in  readiness,  and  that  the  man 
having  charge  of  them  was  not  to  be  found, 
and  that  the  oars  belonging  to  them,  had  also 
disappeared;  when  the  expedition  was  given 
up  for  that  day." 

''What  had  become  of  the  man  who  had 
the  care  of  the  boats?"  asked  Harry. 

''It  was  never  known,''  said  the  Captain, 
where  he  was  that  night.  Whether  the  ex- 
pedition was  defeated  through  treachery,  or 
by  accident,  was  never  ascertained." 

"This  failure,"  continued  he,  '^served  to 
increase  the  ardor  of  the  Araericans.  All 
were  anxious  for  another  trial.  Orders  were 
given  to  General  Smyth  to  advance  with  his 
corps.  The  13th  was  the  day  fixed  for  the 
attack.     Colonel  Chrystie,  with  a  detachment 


5 


50 


A    TKIP  TO   THE 


of  nrnrly  four  Imiulred  ro,ir,iIars  of  the  13th 
reginiont,  had  arrived  late  the  uiir\\t  hefore, 
from  his  eneainpiiuMit  at  the  Four  luile  creek, 
tojoiu  the  expechtion.  Aftrr  this  fatiiriiing 
march,  made  more  so  by  the  rain  that  !iad 
fallen,  most  of  the  men,  and  some  of  the 
olficers,  had  their  first  meal  for  that  dav. 

The  force  designated  to  storm  the  heiLdits, 
was  composed  of  three  hundred  militia,  under 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  and  an  ecpjal  num- 
ber of  regulars,  under  Colonel  Chrystie. 
These  were  to  be  followed  by  Colonel  Fen- 
wick's  artillery,  and  them  by  Major  Mullany, 
with  three  hundred  and  tifty  regular  troops. 
About  a  dozen  boats  had  been  prepared, 
capable  of  carrying  but  twenty  five  each. 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  who  led  the  van, 
landed  with  about  one  hundred  men.  Lieu- 
tenant Rathbone  was  killed  in  Colonel  Van 
Rensselaer's  boat,  before  landing.  The  first 
boat  that  reached  the  shore  was  commanded 
by  Captain  Armstrong;  Captain  Malcolm,  and 
Lieutenant  Hugunin  being  also  on  board. 
The  had  scarcely  leaped  upon  the  shore, 
when  the  noise  of  their  landing  reached  the 
he  British  scntinelo,  and  a  brisk  fire 


IIATTU:  r.KOI  i\D. 


5i 


>f  the  13th 
ht  l)cforc, 

5  f'ati<niinir 
1  that  had 
ne  of  the 
it  flav. 
10  hcii^hts, 
itia,  under 
(jiial  nuin- 

Chrvstie. 
onel  Fcn- 
'  Mulkiny, 
lar  troops. 

prepared, 
hvo  each. 

the  van, 
!n.  Lieu- 
lonel  Van 

The  first 
>mnianded 
Icolnn,  and 
3n  board, 
he  shore, 
ached  the 

brisk  fire 


was  open(»d   upon   them.     A   fire   was    also 
opened  by  their  batteries  upon  tlie  Arno^'i(;aii 
sbore,  wliicli  was  returned  by  our  batteries. 
Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  had    rec^iived  four 
wounds,  but  was  yet  abk;  to  stand.     Many 
of  his  men,  and  several  of  bis  ollicers,  were 
woiuided.     Now  came  the  trial  of  courage. 
Colonel  Van  l{enss(?la(n'  ordered  every  man 
that  could  move,  to  "mount  the  hill  and  storm 
the  batteries.-'     Captain  C\rilvic  was  now  in 
command,  assisted  by  Captain    Wool,    who 
was   wounded,  and   followed   by  Lieutemnt 
Kearny,  Carr,  Ilugunin,  and  Somers.     Ma- 
jor Lusb,  a  volunteer,  was  plnr-ed  in  the  rear, 
with  orders  to  put  to  de^.a  the  first  man  who 
should  fjdl  back.     Lieutenants  Randolph  and 
Gansevoort,    who    bad    volunteered,    at   the 
head  of  a  handful  of  men,  rushed  boldly  up 
the  rocks  to  the  right  of  the  fort,  and  giving 
three  cheers,  the>  charged  upon  the  enemy, 
and  after  several  desperate  onsets,  the  bat- 
tery was  carried,  and  they  were  driven  down 
the  hill  in  every  direction. 

Then  went  up  to  heaven  from  their  free 
and  brave  hearts,  the  shout  of  victory;  and 
such  a  shout  as  brave  men  alone  can  mve. 


I 

i 


52 


Mil 


.'II 


A    TRIP  TO    THE 


But  their  joy  was  tempered  with  the  deep 


sorrow 
weJJ — br 


Lieut 


enant  ValJeau,— I  kn 


est 


ew  him 


1— brave  man,  and  not  brave  in  vain,  had 
fallen!  The  last  look  of  his  elosing  eyes  saw 
the  enemy  flying.  And  there  were  others 
too,  among  the  dead,  that  I  had  known! 
Ensign  Morris!  brave  young  spirit,  he  too 
was  gone.  And  Armstrong,  Malcolm,  Wool, 
they  were  wounded. 

'J'he  enemy  had  been  driven  into  a  strong 
stone   fortress,   near   the   water's  edge,  and 
there  they  kept  up   their  fire;    but  their  bat- 
teries,  all  but  one  gun,  were  silenced.     This 
scene  was  enacted   soon  after  daylight,  and 
in  view  of  the  American  shore.     The  Amer- 
icans seemed  to  have  full  possession  of  the 
heights,  but  the   fortune  of  the  day  was  not 
yet  decided.     But  a  small  part  of  their  troops 
had  crossed  the  river.     Difficulties  not  fore- 
seen had  arisen.     General  Brock,  who  it  now 
appeared  was  at  Fort  George,  had  come  up 
with  a  re-inforcement.     The  boat  in  which 
Colonel  Chrystie   had  embarked  was  on  the 
right,  which  was  down  the  river.     He  had 
arrived  but  the  night   before,  and  was  unac- 

ouaintpd  With  til"   ^,.,..i.-ri      'T-ti         ., 

^  ....I.  .,,v.  ^iOUiid.      liie  pdot  was 


BATTLE  GROUND. 


53 


he  deepest, 
knew  him 
1  vain,  had 
:  eyes,  saw 
re  others, 
d  kaown. 
'it,  he  too 
>lm,  Wool, 

0  a  strong 
edge,  and 
their  bat- 
ed.    This 
light,  and 
he  An:ier- 
on  of  the 
'  was  not 
9ir  troops 
not  fore- 
ho  it  now 
come  up 
in  which 
IS  on  the 
He  had 
as  unac- 
iiot  was 


unskilful,   and    had  become   alarmed.      Tha 
row-lock  of  his  boat  gave  way,  and  he  was 
carried  by  the  force  of  the  current,  far  down 
the   stream.     He  was   discovered   too,   by  a 
detachment  of  the  enemy,  posted  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill  on  the  left  of  the  town,  who  open- 
ed  upon  him  a  galling  fire.     To  make   the 
shore  was  impossible,  without  going  so  far 
down  the  stream,  as  to  make  his  landing  both 
dangerous  and   useless.     He  had  received  a 
dangerous  wound  in  the  hand,  and  no  choice 
was  left  him,  but  to  return  to  the  American  to 
shore;  Major  Mullany  was  also  obliged  return. 
Such   was   the   force  of  the   current,  that 
Colonel    Chrystie    landed    several    hundred 
yards  below  the  point  of  embarcation.     Here 
the  pilot  took  fright  and  ran  away.     Four 
regular  officers,  commanding  corns,  had  at- 
tempted to  cross  during  the  morning,  all  of 
them  in  ditT'erent   boats,   and  not  one  suc- 
ceeded.    At   the    place  of  embarcation,   all 
was  confusion.    The  enemy  had  concentrated 
their  fire  upon  this  point;  the  boatmen  had 
forsaken  their  duty;  and  the  militia  hesitated 
to  embark.     Would  that  the  faithful  historian 
had  no  such  scene  as  this  to  record." 

6* 


CHAPTER  V. 


HARD   FIGHTING. 


While    the    Captain    was    reciting    these 
events  Harry  stood  ahiiost  breathless  with 
the  excitement   and   interest  of  the  story. 
It  was  a  relief  to  him  to  have  a  short  pause. 
And  Charles  too  stood  by  their  side  on  the 
elevated   spot   they  had   chosen    that   they 
might   overlook   the  whole  scene  of  these 
stirring  events.     With  a  long  sigh  at   the 
weakness  of  those  who  hesitated  to  come  to 
the  relief  of  their  fellow  soldiers,  in  the  hour 
of  danger,  and  almost  an  imprecation  on  the 
memory  of  the  cowardly  guide,  he  begged 
the  Captain  to  proceed. 

'^Were  there  none,''  said  Harry,  ''of  all 
those  assembled  here,  who  dared  to  defend 
the  freedom  of  their  Country?" 

"There  were  some,"  said  the  Captain, 
Lieutenant  Frederick  was  impatient  to  cross 
the  river  with  his  detachment.  Brave  men, 
but  brave  to  no  purpose.    Boatmen  could 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


55 


ing  these 
iless  with 
:he  story. 
)rt  pause, 
de  on  the 
:hat   they 

of  these 
h  at  the 
)  come  to 

the  hour 
on  on  the 
e  begged 

,  ''of  all 
o  defend 

Captain, 

to  cross 

ive  men, 

)n  could 


not  be  found  to  take  them  over.  He  was 
countermarching  along  that  narrow  pass  you 
see  there  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  to  escape, 
as  much  as  possible,  the  shower  of  grape 
shot  and  shells  that  came  from  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river." 

''Could  the  guns  of  the  British"  asked 
Harry,  "reach  our  men  from  the  other  side 
of  the  river]" 

"Yes,"  saiH  the  Captain,  "The  river  is 
not  more  thj  .>  three  hundred  yards  broad. 
Many  of  our  men  fell  here.  But  as  I  cross- 
ed over  in  the  first  boat  with  Colonel  Van 
Rensselaer,  I  did  not  see  them.  To  those 
who  were  standing  about  the  place  of  em- 
barkation, almost  every  ball  from  the  farther 
shore  brought  death  on  its  wings.  Here 
Nelson,  best  of  Captains,  fell.  Peace  to  his 
ashes!  Would  that  he  had  fallen  in  the  hour 
of  victory!  Mournfully  his  companions  bore 
him  away." 

"Had  we  no  guns,"  said  Harry,  that  could 
reach  the  British  on  the  opposite  shore?" 

"Yes,"  L^id  the  Captain.  A  fire  was  open- 
ed from  our  batteries  here.  Colonel  Scott 
had  also  brought  two  six  pounders  from  the 


1     I. 


56 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


i''ii 


Falls  of  Niagara.  But  we  could  not  do 
much  with  them  on  this  side,  and  our  boats 
were,  too  small  to  take  them  over." 

''I  have  read  in  the  newspapers,"  said 
Harry,  of  a  General  Scott.  Is  he  the  same 
man?" 

^'The  very  same,"  said  the  Captain,  ^^and 
a  brave  man,  and  a. good  officer  he  is  too." 

''Now"  said  Harry,  '*I  should  hke  to  cross 
the  river.'' 

''Here,"  said  the  Captain,  ''is  a  boat.  By 
crossing  we  shall  better  understand  the  rest 
of  the  battle.  Jump  in  boys,  and  man  the 
oars,  and  I  will  steer.  wJ  can  cross  safely 
now.  No  canister  or  grape  shot  are  flying 
about  our  ears.  It  is  a  quieter  time  than  on 
the  13th  of  October  1812.  Another  pull  and 
we  are  to  the  shore.  Chain  the  boat  and 
let  us  go  up  the  hill.  It  is  hard  climbing 
with  none  to  oppose,  and  no  arms  to  bear! 
But  we  are  up  at  last.  How  glorious  is  the 
prospect!" 

"Now,"  said  Harry,  ^q  shall  understand 
the  ground." 

The   Captain   continued.      'The   Ameri- 
cans" said  he,  '-were  still  in  possession  of  the 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


57 


d   not   do 
our  boats 


7? 


rs,      said 
!  the  same 

^ain,  '^and 
is  too." 
e  to  cross 

)oat.  By 
1  the  rest 

man  the 
)ss  safely 
ire  fjvinfr 
e  than  on 
•  pull  and 
boat  and 

climbino" 

o 

to  bear, 
us  is  the 

derstand 

Ameri- 
j'n  of  the 


m 


heights,  but  the  British  had  command  of  the 
stone  fortress.  You  see  its  ruins  near  the 
river.  General  Brock  had  now  come  up 
with  a  re-enforcement  of  the  49th  Regiment, 
six  hundred  stronsr." 

The  Captain  here  paused  as  if  studying 
the  ground,  and  trying  to  call  to  mind  the 
position  of  the  combatants.  But  proceeding 
a  little  further  from  the  river  he  halted. 

"Here,"  said  he,  ''General  Brock  attacked 
a  battery  under  Captain  Wool,  who  ordered 
his  men  to  charge.  But  sixty  to  charge 
against  six  hundred!  They  were  driven 
back;  but  the  gallant  Captain  again  gave  the 
word  to  choTfre!  The  steep  bank  was  on 
one  side  and  the  enemy  on  the  other.  They 
charged  like  brave  men  but  could  not  move 
the  enemy.  They  were  ten  to  one  at  this 
point.  Again  the  Americans  fall  back.  They 
are  not  beaten,  but  moved  back  by  the  swell 
of  superior  numbers,  as  by  the  waves  of  the 
ocean..  Who  shows  a  sign  of  fear?  A  white 
handkerchief  is  on  an  American  bayonet. 
It  is  torn  away  by  the  gallant  Wool.  The 
motion  of  his  hand  was  quick  as  the  dip  of 
the  swallows  wing;   and  the  voice  of  their 


58 


lii  r'i 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


Commander,   like    the  I 
them  stand  their  irround, 


ions   in  power,   bids 


''Could  not  our  brave  sold 


lers/'  sai 


ry,   "who  already  gained  two  vict 
this  hill,  be  re-enforced  by  a  s. 


d  H 


ar 


ones  on 


rl( 


company 
ot  men  from  tlie  other  side?" 

"Colonel  Chrystic,"  said  the  Captain,  "has 
crossed  over.     We  are   re-enforced  by  un- 
tired  men.     We  are  half  the  number  of  the 
British.     The  Colonel  leads  the  charge.     It 
is  a  desperate  one,  but  he  routes  the  enemy; 
they  are  put  to  flight—the  Invincibles— and 
General  Brock  is  their  leader.     Stung  and 
maddened  by  this  repulse  he  rallies  to  recov- 
er his  lost  ground.     But  he  meets  another 
conqueror  now.     Death  puts  his   finger  on 
him  and  he  falls.     Three  ^^uilets  have  chased 
his  life  away.     And  with  him,  McDonald, 
aid  of  thy  great  General,  hast   thou   fallen! 
Thou  hast    been   faithful   even   unto  death. 
Happy  termination  of  life  to  fall  with  thy 
great  leader.     On    your  heads   be   not   the 
responsibilities  of  the  war,  in  which  England 
has  driven  us.     Happy  that  your  spirits  shall 
not  behold  the  babarity  of  your  savage  allies 
Jiat  IS  to  lOllow.     *'Push  on  the  bruve  York 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


59 


3wer,   bids 

said  Har- 
ctories  on 
)  company 

)tain,  *'has 
)d  by  un- 
ber  of  tbe 
large.     It 
le  enemy; 
bles — and 
'tung  and 
to  recov- 
s  another 
finger  on 
ve  chased 
"cDonald, 
)u  fallen! 
to  death, 
with  thy 
not    the 
England 
irits  shall 
ige  allies 
.ve  York 


Volunteers,"  were  the  last  words  of  Brock, 
as  he  fell  from  his  horse. 


The  Ii 


iblcs,  the  ft 


amous  49th  Regiment, 
were  for  once  routed.  They  had  seen  much 
service  in  Egypt  and  elsewhere,  and  had 
never  before  been  known  to  yield  an  inch  of 
ground.  Now  their  leader  had  fallen,  and 
they  were  beaten. 

Harry's  young  blood  was  excited  by  the 
relation  of  these  things,  and  he  felt  happy 
that  he  was  born  an  American.  He  had 
forgotten,  in  listening  to  the  recital  of  these 
glorious  deeds,  th(j  conduct  of  the  cowardly 
guide.  His  country  is  now  dear  to  him  be- 
cause of  that  little  band  of  heroes,  who 
fought  so  bravely  on  these  heights.  But  his 
heart  is  soon  to  be  pained  with  the  story  of 
other  deeds  that  day. 

^'Courage,"  said  the  Captain,  '-had  come 
up  here  to  fight  the  battles  of  freedom  and 
vindicate  the  rights  of  man.  But  cowardice 
staid  behind  and  refused  to  come.  The  ene- 
was  beaten,  but  not  conquered.  Re-enforced 
by  several  hundred  Chippeways,  he  is  again 
preparing  for  the  attack.     On  they  come." 

^-Did  none  corne  to  the  relief  of  the  Amer- 
icans," said  Harry. 


I 


H  i  ■ 


60 


M    :  HI 


!  I 


Pill 


IMti 


iU 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


it 


small   ro-onforccment  of  Itiflemen  '• 
sa.d  the  Captain,  -had  como  frotn  the  Amer- 
ican shore.     Colonel  Scott  had  now  arrived 
and  as  Colonel  Chrystic  had  been  wounded' 
announomg  his  name  and  rank,  he  assumed 
the  Command,  and  soon  broui^ht  the  troops 
winch  he  found  in  considerab'o  disorder,  into 
hne.     Lieutenant  Gansevoort  an<l  Randolph 
were  drilling  out  the  spike  from  a  piece  of 
Artillery,  that  had  been  taken  from  the  Bri- 
tish  111  the  morning.     Colonel  Scott  hurried 
away  to  assist  them  in  person.     On  returning 
to  h.s  line  he  found  the  Indians  pressing  upon 
It,  tomahawk  in   hand.     He  kept   his  men 
from   falling  into  disorder,   and  encouraged 
and  led  them  on  to  the  charce." 
•^    '^Howdid  the  Indians  fight,"  said  Harry; 
"with  guns  or  with  bows  and  arrowsf 

'•With  guns,"  answered  the  Captain. 
"They  had  been  supplied  by  the  British. 
At  one  point  death-shots  were  falling  like 
hail  from  the  Indian  rifles,  while  at  another, 
the  British  force  is  moving  upon  them  like  a 
wave  that  overleaps  the  shore;  but  nobly  do 
our  forces  come  up  to  the  charge.  Major 
Mullany  has   now  ootne  over  with  a   few 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


61 


Riflemen,'* 
the  Arncr- 
►w  arrived, 
I  wounded, 
le  assumed 
the  troops 
order,  into 
Randolph 
«i  piece  of 
n  the  Bri- 
tt  hurried 
I  returnins: 
'Sing  upon 
his   men 
icouraged 

d  Harry; 
vs?" 

Captain. 
3  British, 
iiing  like 

another, 
3m  like  a 

noblvdo 
.  Major 
h  a   few 


men.  Hand  to  hand  fight  they  with  the  In- 
nian  warriors.  Here  is  one  engaged  in  sin- 
gle combat  with  a  powerful  Chief,  and  there 
IS  a  little  band  in  a  contest  with  unequal 
numbers.  The  Americans  again  have  the 
field.  The  victory  is  theirs.  By  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  have  they  conquered.  Here 
is  the  field  of  their  glory.  This  is  the  day 
of  their  renown.  Three  times  have  they 
triumphed  on  the  hill  this  day.  Hope  has 
been  swallowed  up  in  success." 

^'It  was  a  great  victory,"  said  Harry. 
*Tes,"  said  the  Captain.     ^'Men  had  ofler- 
ed  up  their  lives  on  the  morning  of  that  day 
to  the  service  of  their  Country,  and  the  sac- 
rifice had  been  accepted.     Their  spirits  had 
joined  the  great  assembly  of  Martyrs.     Their 
deaths,  not  bitter  in  the  hour  of  victory,  were 
not  only  glorious  but  sublime.     They  were 
consecrated  by  a  rite  not  fearful  to  them, 
nor   to   their   surviving   comrades.     Theirs 
was  the  Baptism  of  blood.     But  the  end  was 
not  yet.     The  glories  of  their  morning  and 
mid-noon  victories  were  to  be  obscured  by  a 
cloud  that  was  to  follow." 


6 


62 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


''The  Americans,"  continued  the  Captain, 
''werq  a  Spartan  band  in  nothing  but  cour- 
age.    They  were  icss   than  three  hundred. 
The  British  fbrres,   in  regulars,  mihtia  and 
Indians,  were  four  times  that  number.     They 
had  four  pieces  of  Artillery;    our  men  but 
one.     Our  guns  were  looking  at  us  from  the 
American  shore  like  so  many  great  telescopes 
as  if  to  see  what  we  were  about;  but  they 
could  not  be  brought  over.     The  intrenching 
tools  too  had  been  left  behind,  arid  one  half 
of  our   boats   had   been   lost   or   damaged. 
General  Wadsworth  had  come  over  with  a 
small  battalion  of  Miltia,   but  our  numbers 
were  not  increasing.     Some,  taking  counsel 
of  their  fears,    had  even  taken  the  boat  in 
which  General  Van  Rensselaer  crossed,  and 
returned  to  the  American  shore.     Then  was 
the  critical  moment.     General  Van  Rensse- 
laer returned  to  urge  the  militia  to  cross,  but 
neither  threats  nor  entreaties  could  prevail. 
One  Company  of  well  equipped  men  were 
about  to  embark.     But  the  fight  had  again 
begun  on  the  heights  and  they  would  not  go. 
From  having  ears  they  had  lost  their  cour- 


age. 


They  needed  but  to  have  been  on  the 


HARD    FIGIITINt;. 


G3 


he  Captain, 
g  but  cour- 
se hundred, 
militia  and 
ber.  They 
ir  men  but 
IS  from  the 
t  telescopes 
i;  but  they 

intrenchinjr 
nd  one  half 
damaged, 
►ver  with  a 
ir  numbers 
ng  counsel 
he  boat  in 
ossed,  and 

Then  was 
m  Rensse- 
3  cross,  but 
Id  prevail, 
men  were 

had  again 
aid  not  go. 
their  cour- 
een  on  the 


hill   that  day  and  all  would  have  been  he- 
roes." 

^'How  many  militia,"  said  Harry,   ''were 
there  at  Lewiston  at  this  time?" 

'•Twelve  hundred  men,"  said  the  Captain, 
"fully  equipped  were  turning  their  eyes  on 
the  heights  of  Queenston  that  day,  yet, 
standing  on  what  they  called  their  constitu- 
tional rights,  they  refused  to  cross  the  river. 
They  had  been  ordered,  as  they  claimed  to 
serve  only  in  the  United  States.  But  they 
had,  but  a  few  days  before  demanded  to  be 
led  to  the  invasion  of  Canada.  Would  thai 
history  could  veil  her  face  at  this  scene,  but 
truth  bids  her  write.  They  might  have  had 
upon  this  hill,  made  holy  by  the  blood  of 
heroes,  the  glorious  alternative  of  life  with 
victory  or  death  with  renown.  But  they 
chose  the  certainty  of  dishonor,  without  the 
hope  of  either." 

The  Americans  retained  possession  of  the 
heights  for  several  hours,  undisturbed  by  the 
regular  troops  who  were  waiting  for  re-en- 
forcements from  Fort  George.  But  the  fight 
was  kept  up  by  the  Indians.  Sometimes 
they  advanced  closely  and  in  considerablo 


64 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


I.'' 


fiumbers,  but  were  always  driven  back  when 
fairly  engaged  with  our  troops.  The  Indi- 
ans were  led  by  John  Brant,  the  son  of  the 
great  Indian  Captain.  He  was  then  young, 
but  of  graceful  form  and  uncommon  activity. 

He  was  often  seen  by  Colonel  Scott  and 
others,  and  was  always  in  Company  with  a 
powerful  Chief,  afterwards  known  as  Cap- 
tain Jacobs.  It  was  observed  that  these  two 
Indians  were  making  a  mark  of  Colonel 
Scott,  who  was  a  man  of  uncommon  height, 
and  was  conspicuous  by  his  brilliant  uniform, 
and  the  tall  white  plume  he  wore  in  his  hat. 
Major  Totten  fearing  that  Colonel  Scott, 
who  was  singled  out  by  the  enemy,  would 
fall  by  the  hand  of  some  of  these  sharp  shoot- 
ers, sent  him  his  own  overcoat,  advising  him 
to  put  it  on.  But  the  Colonel  declined  the 
disguise,  and  afterwards  charged  upon  the 
Indians  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  neigh- 
boring woods,  and  drove  them  away. 

The  numbers  of  the  Americans  were  con- 
siderably reduced  by  the  dead  and  wounded. 
The  British  column  led  by  General  SheafFe, 
the  successor  to  Brock,  was  now  seen  at  a 


HARD    FIGHTIIVG. 


65 


jack  when 
The  Indi- 
;on  of  the 
du  young, 
1  activity. 
Scott  and 
ny  with  a 
I  as  Cap- 
these  two 
■  Colonel 
►n  height, 
;  uniform, 
n  his  hat. 
el  Scott, 
y,  would 
irp  shoot- 
ising  him 
;lined  the 
upon  the 
he  neigh- 
vere con- 
wounded. 
Sheaffe, 
seen  at  a 

G.^^  ■»-*  j-^  «« «-k  i 


Van  Rensselaer  could  see  from  the  opposite 
shore  that  our  men  would  be  overpowered. 
Finding  all  hope  of  relieving  them  by  re-en 
forcements  in  vain,  he  sent  a  message  ad- 
vising a  retreat  and  offering  to  send  boats 
over  for  that  purpose.  A  consultation  was 
held,  the  enemy  meanwhile  co^'-nermarchino- 
as  if  to  ascertam  whether  0!*r  v\hole  force 
was  in  sight.  We  did  noi  deteriiine  what 
to  do.  A  retreat  was  suggc.,  sci  but  it  was 
considered  hopeless. 

'%''  said  Harry,  "they  could  neither  con- 
quer nor  retreat  they  must  surrender  or  die." 
"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  his  eye  flashing 
like  fire,  and  his  fist  clenched  with  determi- 
nation, "I  shall  never  forget  that  time.  Co- 
lonel Scott  tried  to  rally  his  troops  once 
more  to  the  charge.  In  this  trying  moment 
he  addressed  his  soldiers:— 'We  cannot  con- 
quer; we  may  fall:  we  must  die,'  said  he; 
'but  if  we  die  like  i^oldiers,  we  effect  more 
by  our  example  of  gallantry  upon  a  conquer- 
ed field,  than  we  could  ever  have  done  for  our 
countrymen  if  surviving  a  successful  one," 
This  patriotic  appeal  was  answered  by  a 

Ine  volunteer  miiitia 
6* 


snout 


of  approval. 


m 


66 


HARD    FIGHTING. 


seconded  the  determination.  The  British 
advanced  steadily  in  column,  reserving  their 
fire  till  close  upon  us.  The  Americans  play- 
ed away  with  their  single  piece  of  Artillery. 
A  few  good  shots  were  made,  and  our  men 
stood  their  ground,  till  they  felt  the  point  of 
the  bayonet.  But  they  were  soon  thrown 
into  disorder,  and  almost  exhausted  with 
fatigue,  their  ammunition  nearly  spent,  they 
determined  on  a  retreat. 


'he  British 
rving  their 
icans  play- 
'  Artillery, 
d  our  men 
he  point  of 
Dn  thrown 
isted  with 
pent,  they 


•i 


'I 


'J 
u 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE   SURRENDER 


They  were  now  just  on  the  top  of  the 
steep  bank  you  see  there  which  was  covered 
with  shrubs.     By  these  the  soldiers  let  them- 
selves down  holding  on  from  one  to  another, 
turning  and  giving  an  occasional  fire  upon 
their  pursuers.     But  in  this  they  were  har- 
rassed  by  the  Indians,  who  came  springing 
from    shrub   to   shrub   after   them.      They 
reached  the  water's  edge,  but  not  a  boat  was 
to  be  found.     Colonel   Scott,    to  avoid  the 
galling  fire  of  his  pursuers  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, drew  his  men  up  the  stream,  under  that 
steep  cliff  you  see  yonder." 

*'How  did  they  escape  from  this  place?" 
asked  Harry. 

*'To  escape  was  impossible,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, ''and  to  hold  out  longer  was  useless. 
It  was  determined  to  surrender.  A  flag  was 
sent  with  a  proposition;  but  no  answer  wa^ 
given   and  the   messenger  did   not   return. 


W  i 


68 


THE    SLRRENliER. 


"II 


*  if  iri 


I'll 


'liiil 


I 


I 


I 


Another  was  sent.     The  minutes   that  wo 
waited  for  his  return  were  long,   for  after 
having  determined  to  capitulate,  we  wished 
to  avoid  the  loss  of  any  more  of  our  men. 
Impatient  of  delay  a  third  messenger  was 
sent  with  a  flag.     I  determined  to  follow  him, 
not  dreaming  but  the  flag  he  bore,  would  be 
a  protection   to  us   both.     But   before   we 
reached   the    British   lines,    my   companion 
received  a  musket  shot,   and   fell  mortally 
wounded.     I  dropped  to  the  ground  to  sup^ 
port  him,  and  in  this  way  saved  my  life;  for 
as    I   was    bending   down   a   bullet    passed 
through  the  collar  of  my  coat.     The  Indians 
now  rushed  up  ready  to  tomahawk  my  com- 
panion, and  I  too  should  have  shared  the 
same  fate,  but  for  the  honorable  conduct  of 
a  young  British  ofhcer.     He  had  seen  my 
companion  fall,  and  had  observed  that  he 
bore  a  fiag.     But  he  was  too  far  gone  to 
state  the  terms  of  his  message;    and  as  I 
was  not  particularly  charged  with  it,  I  was 
taken  prisoner,   and  conducted  to  the  rear 
where  was  the  commanding  General.'' 

'^And  what,"  said  Harry,  ''had  become  of 
the  two  first  messcngersi" 


Mm 


1 

i 

t 

I'ii 

j 

i 

THE    SURRENDER. 


69 


that  wo 

for  after 

vc  wished 

our  men. 

ngcr  was 

dIIow  him, 

would  be 

lefore   we 

:ompanion 

mortally 

id  to  sup- 

Y  life;  for 

3t   passed 

le  Indians 

my  com- 

larcd  the 

onduct  of 

seen  my 

.  that   he 

gone  to 

and  as  I 

it,  I  was 

the  rear 

d." 

>ecome  of 


*'They  were  never  seen  afterwards,"  said 
the  Captain.  *They  must  have  shared  the 
same  fate  with  my  companion." 

Harry  here  asked  the  Captain,  what  be- 
came of  the  men  he  had  left  with  Colonel 
8cott  under  the  bank. 

''They  all  surrendered,"  said  the  Captain. 
"The  dreadful  truth  as  to  the  messengers  he 
had  sent  to  the  enemy  flashed  upon  the  mind 
of  the  Colonel.     He  determined  to  bear  a 
iiag  himself.     Major  Totten  tore  off  his  cra- 
vat for  a  flag,  and  he  and  Lieutenant  Gibsc. 
resolved    to   accompany   their   commander. 
They  soon  made  their  appearance  and  the 
terms  of  surrender  were  agreed  upon;  and 
thus  ended  the  events  of  that  terrible  day. 
The  Americans  were  overcome  rather   by 
the  coolness  of  their  Countrymen  who  were 
idly  looking  on,  than  by  the  power  of  their 
enemies." 

^  The  number  oi  prisoners  surrendered  by 
Colonel  Scott,  was  two  hundred  and  ninety 
three,  as  they  were  counted  by  himself.  The 
American  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
about  seven  hundred;  that  of  the  British  is 
not  exactly  known. 


•(OMi 


70 


THE    SIJRRENDEU. 


*?l 


''After  the  prisoners  surrendered/'  said  the 
Captain,  ''Colonel  Scott  related  an  incident 
that  nearly  cost  him  his  Jife.     As  he  was 
proceeding  with  the  flag,  following  along  the 
edge  of  the  river  protected  fi-om  the  shots  of 
the  enemy  by  the  stee])  bank,  he  came  to  a 
ponit  where  it  afforded  no  further  protection, 
and  as  he  turned  to  the  left  to  take  the  road' 
the  two  Indians  who  had  been  aiminir  at  him, 
suddenly  rose  from  their  ambush  and  sprung 
upon  him  with  the  ferocity  of  tigers.     They 
were  young  Brant  and  Captain  Jacobs.     The 
ColonJ    tried    to  appease  them,  by  telling 
them  that  he  was  bearing  a  llair  to  the  British 
Commander.      The   Indians    both   grappled 
with  him,  and  Captain  Jacobs  wrenched  his 
sword  from  his  hand.     The  swords  of  Totten 
and  Gibson  were  instantly  drawn,   and  the 
Indians  were  raising  their  hatchets  when  a 
British  Sergeant  rushed  forward,  and  separ- 
ating   the   combatants,    conducted    Colonel 
Scott  to  the  presence  of  General  Sheatle." 

"How  were  the  prisoners  treated  by  the 
British  Generalf"  asked  Harry. 
^  *'We  were  pretty  well  treated,"  said  the 
Captain;   ''but  we   had   to   mnrch    tn   Fr.rt 


THR    SURRENDER. 


n 


/'said  the 
1  incident 
s  he  was 
along  the 
e  shots  of 
;ame  to  a 
rotcction, 
the  road, 
g  at  him, 
id  sprung 
3.  They 
l)s.  The 
y  telling 
le  British 
grappled 
iched  his 
)f  Totten 

and  the 
s  when  a 
id  separ- 

Colonel 
eafle." 
d  by  the 

said  the 
to  Fort 


George,  a  distance  of  six  miles  that  night; 
and  most  of  the  prisoners  were  afterwards 
taken  to  Montreal.     Though    the  day  had 
been  in  the  highest  degree  disastrous,  the  of- 
ficers and   soldiers  engaged   in    the  contest 
displayed   the  greatest  courage.     It  would 
be  invidious  to  praise  any  where  all  had  de- 
served so  well.     Every  officer  who  crossed 
the    river    distinguished    himself      Colonel 
Scott  continued  most  of  the  day  in  the  thick 
est  of  the  light,  and  though  of  commanding 
stature  he  received  not  the  slightest  wound 
It  was  said  that  several  Indians  afterwards 
declared  that  they  had  taken  deliberate  aim 
at  him,  and  from  not  having  hit  him,  they 
thought  him  under  the  special  protection  of 
the  Great  Spirit." 

''Many  a  poor  fellow,"  said  Harry    ''lost 
his  life  that  day." 

^'Yes,"  said  the  Captain.  ^^Let  us  now  go 
to  the  field  of  the  dead.  There  lay  hundreds 
who  on  the  morning  of  that  day  trod  this 
hill,  with  all  the  gay  chivalry  of  the  soldier 
Some  were  there  in  their  dyin^  agonies,' 
whose  eyes  were  to  close  on  a  vanquished 
hold,     t  or  such  as  these  it  was  hard  to  die. 


72 


THE    SUHRENDER. 


And  others  were  there  disabled  by  the  lass 
of  limbs  and  other  wounds.     They  had  f-. 
pected  victory  or  death  but  had  found  nei- 
ther.    Theirs  were  not  dishonored  wounds. 
They  had  bared  their  bosoms  to  the  enemy,' 
and  he  had   left   his  marks    there.     These 
were   such   wounds   as   n.ade    the   Grecian 
mother  happy  when  her  sons  had  fahnn  in 
battle.     Ai.a  the  dead !  they  needed  not,  hke 
the  Greek  wlo  fell  wounded    in   his   back 
when  flying  before  the  enemy,  to  be  hurried 
in  the  night.     Face  to  face  had  they  met  the 
enemy;  and  face  to  face  they  met  death  " 

;'I  have  heard,-  said  Harry,  -that 'some 
British  soldiers  who  had  deserted  were  in 
the  fight  with  us." 

**There  were  some/'  said  the  Captain. 
^'When  it  was  determined  to  surrender,  two 
men  were  seen  stripping  themselves  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  and  on  being  questioned  as 
to  the  cause,  they  rephed  that  they  might  as 
well  drewn  as  be  hanged.  They  knew  it  was 
a  rule  to,  hang  or  shoot  the  deserttirs." 

*'Did  they  swim  the  river,''  asked  Ha. rv. 

**They   did,"   snid    the   Captain.     '^Tliey 
struggled   manfuli-    with   the   currei.i,   mid 


by  the  [os.v 
cy  had  ex  - 
found  isoi- 
d  wounds, 
he  enemy, 
e.     These 
e   Grecian 
i  fallen  in 
d  not,  like 
his   back 
be  biirried 
;y  met  the 
eath." 
'hat  some 
i  were  in 

Captain, 
nder,  two 
es  on  the 
stioned  as 

might  as 
ew  it  was 

i  Hairy. 

"They 

eiii,   and 


THE    SURRENDER.  73 

both  reached   the  American   shore.     Some 
Americans  gave   them  some  clothes   when 
nay  got  across,  and  Colonel  Scott  told  me 
that  he   afterwards   saw  them.     But   they 
never  dared  to  come  on  this  side  of  the  river. 
Alter  the  prisoners  had  arrived  at  New- 
ark near  Fort  George,  it  was  stated  in  the 
General  orders  of  General  Sheatfe,  that  two  ' 
hundred  Americans  had  been  dro;ned    and 
nine  hundred  taken  prisoners.    Colonel  Scott 
complained  to  General  SheafTe,  that  he  was 
making  a  larger  victory  than  he  was  en- 
titled to.     Col.  Scott  had  counted  his  own 
men  when   the  surrender  was   made.     But 
the  General  believed  his  statement  to  be  cor- 
rect,    and   conducted  Colonel    Scott  to  the 
barracks  that  he  might  see  for  himself.     The 
Colonel  was  much  mortified  to  find  the  state- 
ment  to  be  true." 

^'How  did  it  happen,'^  said  Harry,  -that 
here  were  more  prisoners  than  appeared  by 
the  count  of  Colonel  Scott?" 

^^It  was  found,"  said  the  Captain,   -that 

several  hundreds  of  rascally  militia,    upon 

anding  upon  the  Canadian  shore,  had  taken 

•'J-n.ago  oi  me  Uartaess,  for  it  was  scarce- 


m-\ 


74 


THE  SURRENDER. 


\y  day-light,  and  had  hid  themselves  away 
among  the  rocks,  where  they  were  concealed 
during  the  day,  and  were  found  and  dragged 
out  by  the  British  troops  on  the  surrender." 

Harry  now  asked  the  Captain,  if  the  pri- 
soners were  kepj  in  prison  or  under  a  guard. 

*The  soldiers,"  said  the  Captain,  ''were 
•  kept  at  the  barracks  within  the  Fort.  But 
Colonel  Scott  and  his  principal  officers  were 
quartered  in  a  small  tavern  at  Newark,  and 
had  an  invitation  to  dine  with  the  British 
General  that  evening." 

^'Was  it  customary  for  British  officers  to 
treat  their  prisoners  with  so  much  attention?" 
asked  Harry. 

^'Officers,"  said  the  Captain,  ''are  usually 
treated  with  great  civility." 

"I  thought,"  said  Harry,  "that  they  would 
be  treated  with  great  severity  for  their  re- 
sistance." 

*'War,"  said  the  Captain,  "is  not  between 
men,  but  between  Goverments.  British  and 
American  officers  will  be  personally  good 
friends  the  day  after  a  hard  fight,  and  will  bo 
ready  to  fight  agam  the  next  day,  if  their 
Country  requires  it  of  them." 


selves  away 
•e  concealed 
md  dragged 
surrender.'^ 
if  the  pri- 
ler  a  guard, 
tain,  ''were 
Fort.  But 
iicers  were 
ewark,  and 
the  British 

officers  to 
attention?" 

are  usually 

hey  would 
r  their  re- 


THE    SURRENDER. 


76 


*'And  besides,"  continued  the  Captain, 
'^General  Sheaffe  was  an  American  by  birth, 
and  it  may  be  he  was  more  polite  on  that 
account." 

"And  how,"  said  Harry,  "being  an  Amer- 
ican, does  he  fight  against  his  Country.     I 
could  not  eat  and  drink  with  a  man  who 
would  seek  to  enslave  the  land  of  his  birth." 
''At  the  commencement  of  the  revolution- 
ary war,"  said  the  Captain,  "he  was  living 
with  his  mother  who  was  a  widow  in  Bos- 
ton.    While  that  City  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  British,  the  Earl  of  Percy  a  British 
officer  kept  his  quarters  at  his  mothers  house. 
He  was  but  a  boy  then,  and  the  Earl  taking 
a  liking  to  him  took  him  to  England,  and 
gave  him  a  military  education,    and  after- 
wards  procured   him  a  Commission  in  the 
British  Service.     He  had  asked  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  some  other  Country  but  his  request 
had   not   been  granted.     For  this  affair  of 
capturing  Colonel  Scott  and  his  little  band  at 
Queenston,  he  was  made  a  Baronet." 

*'And  what,",  said  Harry,  "is  a  Baronett?" 

*'I^is  a  title  of  nobility,"  said  the  Captain. 

*'In  England  they  have  a  great  many  titles 


n  '■ 


76 


THE    SURRENDER. 


of  d,frorent  degrees  in  rank.     Men  who  have 

aV  u'r'  -  vc  the  comn.on  peol 
and  the  h,gh.u  tho  t.tie,  the  greater  the  £ 
ference  between  them.  Some  of  these  tit)  s 
are   heruluary;    that  is,    if  when    Ge  e  a 

Sheafred,eshehasason;..ng,thesonwiI 
become  a  baronet.  It  is  usually  bestowed 
tor  some  great  action." 

"I  thmk,"  said  Harry,  "I  like  our  Country 
the  .est,  where  every  man  is  for  himself 
and  ,s  as  good  as  his  .^ighbor,  if  he  behaves' 
as  well.  1  am  afra.d  the  British  General 
thought  too  much  about  gaining  a  titlo  i. 
feel  very  bad  about  fighting  agaLt  £wa 
Countrymen.' 

"But  "  said  the  Captain,  "I  must  f  !]  you 
of  another  incident  at  Foit  George.     While 
Colonel  Scott  was  waiting  f.,  th"e  arrival  of. 
an  officer  to  con„uct  him  to  the  General's 
q..arters   a  little  gir),   came  into  tlK   r^om 
V'here  the  Colonel  was,  and  said  that  some 
body  m  the  hall  wanted  to  see  the  'fall  ofB- 
cer;    and  Colonel  Scott  i.n.  ed'  ,ely  stepped 

the   well    known    Indian,   Captain    Jacobs. 


1 


■^  who  have 
lion  people, 
Iter  the  dif- 
'  these  titles 
>n  General 
the  son  will 
/  bestowed 

iJr  Country 
3r  himself, 
be  behaves 
ih  General 
a  title,  to 
St  his  own 

t   t'll    you 

e.     While 
arrival  of- 
General's 
tlF    room 
lat  some- 
5  ^tall  offi- 
y  stepped 
^  encoun- 
►rant  ana 
Jacobs. 


THE    SURRENDER. 


77 


I 


Young  Brant  inquired  of  him  how  many 
bu  lets  had  cut  through  his  clothes,  as  they 
had  been  firing  at  him  all  day.  But  while 
he  was  speaking,  and  before  Colonel  Scott 
could  answer,  old  Jacobs  seized  him  by  the 
arm  and  fried  to  whirl  him  round,  saying 
that  he  had  tired  at  him  so  often  he  thought 
he  must  have  hit  him  somev  '  ere." 

"At  this  Colonel  Scott  reproached  him  for 
his  want  of  his  skill  with  the  Rifle,  and  threw 
him  from  him,  and  the  Indians  instantly  drew 
both  dirk  and  tomahawk,  when  Colonel  Scott 
seized  a  sword  that  happened  to  be  standing 
lear  and  prepared  to  defend  himself     Thus 
they  sto  J,  two  Indians  with  dirk  and  toma- 
hawk,  and  C.      ,el  Scott  with  his  sword,  the 
eyes  of  each  flasl,.  g  defiance  towards  the 
other.     On  one  side  was  the  courage  of  the 
soldier,  and  on  the  other  t    ■  ferocity  of  the 
savage." 

"At  this  moment  Colonel  uoffin,  who  had 
come  to  conduct  Colonel  Scot  to  Genr  al 
hhealic  s  head  quarters,  interlered  with  word 
and  weapon  in  his  defence;  -vhen  the  J„  lians 
both  t.rned  upon  Colonel  C  ,ffin,  .nd  o..  of 
'"em  e.xciaimed,  'I  kill  yo,  !'     The  seen    wa. 

7# 


lUl  il 


11^      M|t 


78 


THE    SURRENDER. 


now  changed,  and  the  British  Colonel  was 
pitted  against  the  two  Indians,  while  Colonel 
Scott  with  his  s^vord  still  raised  cried  out, 
*if  you  strike  I'll  kill  you  both!" 

*Tor  a  moment  they  stood  in  this  threat- 
ening attitude  when  the  Indians  dropped  their 
arms  and  retired,  satisfied  that  the  'tall  offi- 
cer' was  a  brave  man.*' 

"I  think,"  said  Harry,  ''I  have  heard  this 
story  of  Colonel  Scott,  being  shot  at  by  the 
Indians  told  incorrectly  of  Washington." 

"It  might  have  been  told  of  him,  and  cor- 
rectly too,"  said  the  Captain.  "It  was  true 
of  him  at  Braddock's  defeat,  at  the  battle  of 
the  Mongahela  in  1755.  He  had  two  horses 
killed  under  him  during  the  battle,  but  was 
not  even  wounded  himself  About  fifteen 
years  afterwards,  while  travelling,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  scene  of  that  battle,  he 
was  visited  by  an  old  Indian  Chief,  who  told 
him  he  had  deliberately  aimed  at  him  during 
the  fight,  and  that  he  directed  his  young 
warriors  to  do  the  same.  The  Indians  be^- 
lieved  him  to  be  under  the  special  protection 
of  the  Great  Spirit;  and  the  old  Chief  told 
him  that  he  had  come  to  see  the  nan,  who 
was  never  to  die  in  battle." 


^i 


«ll*^*i»ifc:' 


THE    SURRENDER. 


79 


olonel  was 
ule  Colonel 
[  cried  out, 

this  threat- 
3})ped  their 
le  'tall  offi- 

heard  this 
t  at  by  the 
igton." 
n,  and  cor- 
t  was  true 
le  battle  of 
two  horses 
e,  but  was 
3ut   fifteen 
ig,    in    the 
battle,  he 
]  who  told 
lim  durinof 
his   young 
ndians  be- 
protection 
Chief  told 
nan,  who 


*'I  should  like,"  said  Harry,  '^to  know 
more  of  the  history  ol  that  young  Mohawk 
Chief." 

"He  was  the  son,"  said  the  Captain,  ''of 
that  great  but  bloody  warrior,  Joseph  Brant 
or  Thayendanegea,  as  he  was  called  by  the 
Indians.  He  it  was  that  we  saw  with  the 
Mohawks  at  the  Tuscarora  viliage,  and  of 
whom  I  promised  to  give  you  souie  account." 

"John  Brant,  or  Ahyouwaeghs  which  was 
his  Indian  name,  did  not  become  Chief,  by 
inheritance  from  his  father  at  his  death;  but 
on  the  appointment  of  his  mother.     Accord- 
ing to  the  Constitution  of  the  Mohawks,  the 
inheritance  descends  through  the  female  line 
exclusively.      His   mother   was    the    oldest 
daughter  of  the  head  Chief  of  the   Turtle 
tribe,  the  first  in  rank  of  the  Mohawk  Na- 
tion.    On  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  had 
the  power  of  appointing  his  successor;  and 
she   bestowed   upon   John,    her  fourth    and 
youngest  son,    the  office  of  principal  Chief 
of  the  Six  Nations,  or  the  Iroquois  confed- 
eracy." 

''He  was  born  at  the  Mohawk  village  in 
Upper  Canada,  whither  the  Mohawk  Nation 


M 


iiii 


•■"Wiamitiffliiii 


80 


THE    SURRENDER. 


had  removed,  in  1794,  and  consequently  he 
was  but  eighteen  years  old   at  the  time  of 
the  battle  of  Queenston.     At  the  beginning 
of  the  War  the  Mohawks  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  English.     He  was  in  many  battles  on 
the  Niagara  Frontier,  and  was  brave  in  all. 
The  first  battle  in  which  he  took  part  was 
at  Queenston.     He  achieved  a  victory  over 
Colonel  Boerstler  at  the  Beaver  Dams,  and 
was  at  Fort  George  under  General  Vincent, 
when  that  fortress  was  carried  by  the  Amer- 
oan  troops  under  General  Lewis,     He  was 
afterwards  at  the   battles  of  Chippewa  and 
Lundy's  Lane,  and  in  most  of  the  skirmishes 
that   took   place  on   the  Niagara  Frontier. 
Great  credit  has  generally  been  accorded  to 
him  for  his  intelligence  and  bravery." 

Harry  was  deeply  interested  in  this  reci- 
tal, and  it  is  believed,  that  if  he  had  known, 
when  he  was  admiring  the  young  Indian 
Chief  at  the  Tuscarora  village,  what  a  fierce 
and  determined  warrior  he  had  been,  he 
would  have  felt  rather  uneasy." 

''He  must  have  been  a  brave  fellow,''  said 
Harry,  '^and  would  have  become  a  great 
man  even  among  a  civilized  people.'' 


I 


,<4 


uently  he 
e  time  of 
beginning 
the  cause 
rattles  on 
ve  in  all. 
part  was 
ory  over 
ims,  and  . 
Vincent, 
le  Amer- 
He  was 
ewa  and 
[irmishes 
i^rontier. 
Drded  to 


>> 


his  reci- 
known, 

•  Indian 
a  fierce 

een,    he 

iv,''  said 
a  great 


THE    SVRRENDER,  QJ 

;'At  the  close  of  the  war,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain  -he  with  his  youngest  sister  fixed  his 
residence  at  the  head  of  lake  Ontario,  where 
they  lived  in  the  English  style,  but  with  the 
same  hospitality  which  had  governed  their 
tatlier.  Iheir  residence  was  called  the 
lirant  House,'  and  they  resided  there,  at 
tiie  date  of  our  story." 

'He  had  received  a  good  English  educa- 
tion,  continued  the  Captain,  "and  had  ac- 
quired much  information  by  reading  and 
travel.  In  1821  he  was  sent  to  England  to 
settle  the  dilhculty  between  the  Provincial 
Government  of  Upper  Canada  and  the  Mo- 
hawks respecting  the  title  to  their  lands." 

'-Alter  his  return  from  England,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  education  of  his  people. 
Schools  were  established  amoni,  them,  and 
he  endeavored  to  have  them  instnicted  in  the 
principles  of  the  Christian  religion." 

''In  1827  he  was  appointed  by  the  Earl  of 
J)alhousie  then  Commander  in  Chief  of  the 
British  American  Provinces,  to  the  rank  of 
^aptain,  and  also  Superintendent  of  the  Six 
JVations;  and  he  was  once  elected  a  member 
ul  par  anient,  but  never  took  his  seat  in  that 


82 


THE    SURRENDER. 


« 

^^He  was  said  to  be  a  man  of  fine  figure 
and  countenance,  amiable  in  his  disposition, 
and  of  much  personal  dignity.  His  associ- 
ation with  the  whites  and  his  habits  of  obser- 
vation, had  given  him  the  manners  of  a  well 
bred  gentlemen." 

Harry  little  thought  when  watching  the 
game  of  the  Indians  at  the  Tuscarora  vil- 
lage, that  the  Chief  who  had  attracted  his 
attention,  was  a  character  of  so  much  con- 
sequence even  among  his  own  people. 

''This,"  continued  the  Captain,  ''was  the 
end  of  that  day.  Courage  had  done  its  ut- 
most, and  the  contest  was  over.  The  offi- 
ces of  humanity  and  mercy  were  claimed 
for  the  dead  and  the  dying.  Brock  had  fal- 
len and  General  SheafFe  had  succeeded  to  the 
command.  With  him  was  the  power  and 
the  duty  to  restrain  the  fury  of  his  savage 
allies.  But  the  barbarians  were  soon  at  their 
work  of  plunder,  stripping  and  scalping  the 
slain  and  some  even  of  the  wounded.  To 
the  British  army,  the  moral  effect  of  the  vic- 
tory, if  any  it  could  have,  was  thrown  away. 
They  stood  by  and  saw  the  Chippeways  re- 


1 

CUIU 


Hi 


iuLiLfs    ui    uioou.    in  a  I 


^ 


THE    SURRENDER. 


83 


ine  figure 
isposition, 
lis  asspci- 
;  of  obser- 
of  a  well 

ching  the 
arora  vil- 
racted  his 
fiuch  con- 
pie. 

*'was  the 
ne  its  ut- 
The  offi- 
Q  claimed 
k  had  rai- 
ded to  the 
ower  and 
lis  savage 
on  at  theif 
ilping  the 
ided.  To 
)t'  the  vie- 
wn  av^ay. 
?ways  re- 
eir  object 


was  plunder  and  murder.  God  be  thanked 
that  the  New  York  Militia  held  back,  if  their 
coming  to  the  rescue  would  have  achieved 
the  final  triumph,  but  to  be  followed,  on  their 
part  by  such  atrocities  as  these!" 


i 


Mi 


Hi 


% 


.!*:■■■■'■ 


till! 

h 
J  !i 


CIL\PTER  VII, 


CAUSES  OF  THE  WAR. 


Tlie  Captain  here  stopped  as  if  he  had 
finished  his    story.     But  Harry  wanted   to 

)t  mentioned, 
cause  of  so 


Know  some  things  that  he  had 

'What,"  said    he,    -'was   t] 
much  fighting  heref 

The  Captain,  wishing  to  instruct  him  every 
thing  that  related  to  this  event,  rephed: 

"With  the  estabh'shment  of  the  independ- 
ence of  the  United  States,  Great  Britain 
was  not  exactly  satisfied.  Her  acknowledg- 
ment of  it  was  extorted  rather  from  her 
fears  than  from  her  sense  of  Justice.  She 
had  not  entirely  laid  aside  the  thought  of 
conquering  us." 

"I  should  like  to  know,"  said  Harry,  ''how 
she  could  think  of  conquering  us  then,  if  she 
was  not  able  to  do  it  thirty  years  before. 
The  United  States  must  have  increased  in 
strength  during  that  time." 


v 


CAUSES    OP    THE    WAR. 


// 


he  had 
lited  to 
ntioned. 
3e  of  so 

Ti  every 
yd: 

depend- 
Britain 
owledg- 
om  her 
3.  She 
Light  of 

/,  "how 
I,  if  she. 
before, 
ased  in 


9 

f 


85 


*Tes,"  said  the  Captain,    but  you  see  how 


we  were  beaten  in  tl 


Hs  engagement,  thoiKrh 


we  should  have  conquered,  if  we  had  bee 


n 


able  to  bring  over  our  whole  foi-ce," 

"But,"  said  Harry,  -the  war  wa's  declared 
by  the  Americans.  How  should  they  be  the 
first  to  make  war  because  England  desired 
to  conquer  us?" 

"There  were  oihcr  causes,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain.     ''The   government    of  England    was 
always  ready  to  excite  jealousies  atnong  our 
people.     Befoie  we  had  formed  the  Consti- 
tution  under  which   we  now  iivx\   we  were 
not  as  strongly  united  as  we  are  now.     For. 
s(;vera!   years   alter  the   revolutionary  war,' 
we  were  united  together  by  what  was  cdled 
the  articles  of  confederation.     We  then  had 
no  President.     Every  8tate  had  a  govenor 
as   the  states  now  have,  and  chey  sent  men 
to  a  Congress,  which  passed  laws  that  were 
bnidmg  upon  the  people  of  all  the  States  " 

''I  thought,"  said    Harry,    -that  General 
Washnigton  was  made  President  as  soon  as 
the  war  was  ended." 
"No,"  .riid  the  Captain,  "he  then  went  to 


im  farm  at  Mount  Vern 


Oil  in  Virginia,  where 


he  lived  till   the  Constitution  was  formed 


i;  i 


86 


CAUSES    OP    THE    WAR. 


Peace  was  declared  in  1785,  but  Washington 


C        1 


was  not  made  President  till  1789. 

Harry  now  reminded  the  Captain  that  he 
had  begun  to  tell  the  cause  of  the  war,  rather 
than  about  the  form  of  government. 

"I  was  going  on  to  tell,"  said  the  Captain. 
''Our  people  were  divided  in  opinion  about 
the  new  Constitution,  and  the  British  gov- 
ernment kept  watch  of  all  our  disagreements, 
and  tried  to  exert  an  influence  with  some  of 
the  States  in  favor  of  separating  from  the 
others.  But  after  we  were  united  in  one 
government  by  the  Constitution,  she  could 
not  do  us  any  harm  in  that  way.  She  had 
refused  to  surrender  the  Millitary  posts  ^n 
our  frontier,  according  to  the  treaty  of  peace. 
She  had  forcibly  kept  possession  of  Macki- 
naw. Detroit,  Niagara  and  other  places." 

''But  why,"  said  Harry,  "did  not  we  drive 
them  out  of  these  fortifications,  and  take 
possession  of  them  ourselves?" 

"Because,"  said  the  Captain,  "we  were 
more  anxious  for  peace  than  they  were. 
We  had  hardly  been  relieved  from  the  bur- 
thens of  our  war;  and  besides,  we  had  reason 
to  hope  that  they  would  be  peaccablv  ah- on 


I 


fifflii 


CAUSES    OP    THE    WAR. 


87 


isliington 

1  that  he 
ar,  rather 

• 

Captain, 
on  about 
itish  gov- 
'eements, 
1  some  of 
from  the 
d  in  one 
he  could 
Siie  had 
posts  ^n 
of  peace, 
f  Macki- 
ices.'' 
we  drive 
md    take 

JVC  Were 
jy  were, 
the  bur- 
id  reason 

)]v  crivAn 

-J    0--  — 


up.  The  EngHsh  also  were  exciting  the 
Indians  on  our  frontier  to  the  murder  of  our 
settlers,  by  making  them  presents  of  guns 
and  powder,  and  other  things.  They  wan- 
ted to  make  us  tired  of  our  freedom." 

"1  think,"  said  Harry,  'Hhat  I  should  love 
liberty  the  more  for  such  attempts  being 
made  to  deprive  me  of  it." 

"You  ought  to  do  so,"  said  the  Captain. 
''But  there  was  another  reason  for  the  Amer- 
icans declaring  war.  The  English  claimed 
the  right  to  search  our  Merchant  Vessels, 
for  deserters  from  :h'.  public  service  of  Great 
Britain;  then  they  ckumed  the  right  to  im- 
press English  seamen,  who  had  en  staged 
themselves  in  American  Shi}  -;  and  finally 
they  claimed  the  right  to  fore  i  into  their 
service  all  who  could  not  prove  themselves 
to  be  Americans.  But  Sailors  could  not 
carry  with  them  the  evidence  of  Citizenship, 
and  thousands  of  sailors,  not  onlv  Ameri- 
cans,  but  men  of  other  'Nations,  were  forced 
into  the  British  service.  At  one  time  it  was 
.supposed  there  were  seven  thousand  Amer- 
ican seamen,  m  the*^>service  of  Endand 
against  their  will.     Some  of  llicsu  outrages 


n 


mm 


^'^'isimiik 


liMl 


88 


CAUSES    OF    THE    WAR. 


were  committed  on  our  vessels,   when  lying 
within  our  own  waters." 

*'What  is  meant,"  said  Harry,  ''by  the  ex- 
pression, 'our  own  waters?"' 

''By  the  laws  of  Nations,"  answered  the 
Captain,  '*we  have  jurisdiction  over  all  creeks 
and  rivers,  bays  and  harbors,  that  are  exclu- 
sively in  our  own  territory,  and  also  over 
the  sea  any  where  within  cannon  shot  of  the 
shore,  which  is  generally  estimated  at  a 
marine  league;  so  that  a  vessel  coming  with- 
in reach  of  the  guns  of  any  of  our  forts  is 
said  to  be  within  our  own  waters." 

^'What  is  meant  by  the  laws  of  Nations?" 
asked  Harry. 

''These  laws,"  said  the  Captain,  "are  those 
rules  and  regulations  which  have  been  adop- 
ted by  the  consent  of  all  civilized  Nations, 
for  the  government  of  their  actions  towards 
one  another.  They  are  not  made  by  Con- 
gresses, or  by  parlaments,  but  have  grown 
mto  use  by  gradual  adoption  and  by  the 
common  consent  of  the  world,  in  the 'same 
manner  as  the  laws  that  govern  society,  and 
regulate  the  actions  5f  individuals  towards 
one  another.     By  these  laws  everv  Nation 


CAUSES    OF    THE    WAR. 


89 


is  bound  to  act  towarci;    other  N 


justice,  good   faith  and   benevolence.     Gov- 


ernments are    bound   by  the  obi 


lii 


tions 
ations 


with 


of 


truth  and  a  proper  regard   to  humanity,  in 
the  same  manner  as  individuals." 

Harry  was  |)leased  with  this  explanation. 
He  always  liked  to  learn  something  useful, 
as  well  as  interestinir. 

"Our  commerce,"  continued  the  Captain, 
was  also  subject  to  great  annoyance,  by  the 
unlimited  power  and  control  which  the  Bri- 
tish government  sought  to  exercise  on  the 
ocean.  Our  trade  with  other  nations  was 
interrupted  by  her  claiminfr  the  riirht  to 
visit  and  search  our  vessels;  our  flag  was 
insulted  in  every  sea,  and  our  seamen  car- 
ried away  by  force." 

*'In  1807  the  American  frigate  Chesapeake, 
was  ordered  fi'om  Norfolk  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean. While  she  was  at  Washington  tak- 
ing in  stores  and  receivmg  oflicers  and  men, 
the  En.G:lish  minister  informed  the  govern- 
ment that  three  deserters  from  an  English 
ship,  had  enlisted  among  the  crew  of  the 
Chesapeake,  and  requested  that  they  might 
be  given  up.     The  govenimeat  determined 

8* 


^■ 


i 


^      "^^^^' 


■;:i 


90 


i«,''-!«""i'''ii 


m 


Kjf'it 


li>  i'' 


It  :.::, 


CAUSES    OF    THi:    WAR. 


to  inquire  into  it,  and  it  was  found  on  inv  s- 
tigatioM    that    the    three   m(;n    had   actually 
deserted    from    the    British    Ship,    but    th-y 
claimed  that  they  were  impressed  Ajuerican 
Seamen,  who  had  sought  the  first  opportunity 
that   otiered    to  mal  e  their  escape.     These 
men  being  in  the  United  States,  and  claiming 
the  protection  of  our  laws,  could  not  be  giv"^ 
en  up  to  a  nation  known  to  be  in  the  habit 
of  violating   the  rights   of  individuals.     The 
English  minister  was  thought  to  be  satisfied 
on  the  subject  and  no  more  was  said  about  it." 
'•The  Chesa|.pake  having  put  to  sea,  she 
was  met  a  few  -ules  out  by  the  British  Ship 
Leopard,  the  (commander  of  which  claimed 
the  right  to  search  the  vessel  for  the  three 
men,  which  was  refused  by  the  commander 
of  the  Chesapeake.     The  Leopard  then  fired 
into  the  Chesapeake,  whicii  was  in  a  defence- 
less condition,  the  vessel  being  new,  and  her 
guns  not  having   been  prepared  for  action, 
she  was  oblidged  to  surrender.     The  three 
men  were  taken  awvay  by  tlie  Leopard,  and 
the  Chesapeaive  returned  to  Hampton  roads 


the  same  eveninl^" 

o 

/  'rI^ 

British 


his  act  was  however  d 


government,  and  reparation  was  made 


I 


CAUSE  ^    OP     ^^E    WAR. 


*  1 


311  inVijs- 
actiinlly 
)ut    tli'y 
LHicricaii 
►ortunitv 
7'hese 
clairniiif^ 
t  be  giv- 
he  habit 
s.     The 
satisfied 
bout  it." 
^oa,  she 
ish  Ship 
claimed 
e  three 
mander 
en  fired 
lefence- 
and  her 
action, 
e  three 
rd,  and 
1  roads 


by  deHvoring  up  the  men  on  the  deck  of  the 
Chesapeake,  but  the  commander  n{  tlie  Leo- 
pard was  soon  after  rewarded,  by  being  ap- 
ponited  to  a  more  important  commuixl." 

''Qy  dehvering  up  the  men,  Engbin  I  .d- 
mitted  that  the  taking  them  away  wa  )iig, 
but  by  giving  lO  he  officer  who  did  t  bet- 
ter appoiiitinent,  she  showed  that  she  did  not 
^     iprove  f'f  It." 

Harry  no\  udorstood  the  reason  why 
hostile  armies  iiud  been  arra  ed  aframst  each 
other.  And  wiien  he  saw  from  the  heights, 
as  he  then  did,  the  waters  of  the  Niagara 
flowing  between  his  own  Country  and  that 
of  a  foreign  power,  he  knew  why  it  was 
that  those  armies  had  come  up  to  fight  their 
battles  on  that  hill. 


by  the 
,s  made 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


128     IIIII2.5 


6' 


2.2 


^  i^  lllllio 


1.8 


11-25  11.4   IIIIII.6 


% 


v) 


7 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  672-4503 


.^i"  c^. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


INCIDENTS. 


*'I  have  already  told  you/'  said  the  Cap- 
tain, -^aboiit  two  deserters  from  the  British 
Camp  who  had  joined  our  army  at  the  battle 
of  Queenston,  and  who  afterwards  swam  the 
river  and  escaped  falling  into  the  hands  of 
their  former  masters.     While  we  were   at 
Fort  George,   and  the  day  before  the  dis- 
charge of  the  prisoners,   a  similar  incident 
occurred.     A  few  days  before  the  battle  of 
Queenston  a  man  had  been  sent  across  from 
our  Camp  as  a  spy.     He  had  crossed  the 
river   to   Queenston,    and    making    himself 
known  to  some  of  the  British  soldiers  he 
pretended  to  be  a  deserter  from  the  Amer- 
ican to  the  British  Camp,  but  having  accom- 
plished his  purpose  and  gained,  as  he  sup- 
posed,   the   desired    information,    he   found 
means  to  pass  the  sentinels,  and  returned  to 
the  American  shore.     He  was  by  birth  an 
Irishman,  and  he  cherished  no  small  portion 


i\ 


INCIDENTS. 


93 


e  Cap- 
British 
battle 
im  the 
nds  of 
ere  at 
le  dis- 
cident 
ttle  of 
3  from 
d  the 
imself 
;rs  he 
irner- 
cconi- 
?  sup- 
found 
ed  to 
th  an 
^rtion 


h 


of  the  ancient  enmity  of  hjs  Countrymen 
towards  the  BngHsh.  He  hid  been  one  of 
the  foremost  in  tlie  fight  at  th^  battle  on  these 
heights,  and  had  been  taken  p'isoner  with  us. 
He  had  thought  of  nothing  ?s  he  was  a  reg- 
ular, but  of  going  to  Montrdil  with  the  rest, 
and  had  no  disposition  to  brsake  his  com- 
panions in  arms.  While  peparations  were 
making  for  the  march^  he  ffund  that  he  was 
recognized  by  a  young  Eitish  officer,  and 
discovering,  as  he  thoughi  something  pecu- 
liar in  his  movements,  he  pegan  to  fear  that 
instead  of  going  to  Monti^al  his  fate  would 
be  terminated  upon  the  gjriows.  I  saw  from 
the  glance  of  his  eye  tha|he  wished  to  speak 
to  me,  and  going  a  li^/e  one  side,  with  a 
face  pale  as  death,  he  told  me  he  was  dis- 
covered, and  that  unlesJ  he  could  escape,  and 
swim  the  river,  he  wa^  a  dead  man." 

Harry  here  asked  lie  Captain,  if  they,  had 
any  right  to  hang  a  prisoner  who  had  been 
surrendered  by  thei'  commanding  officer.    , 

"They  have  no  right,"  said  the  Captain, 
*'to  hang  him  ag  prisoner,  but  as  the  man 
had  acted  as  a  ^y,  and  it  was  known  to  the 
British  officer,  that  after  he  had  pretended 


w 


94 


INCIDENTS. 


to  be  a  desertdr  from  the  American  forces, 
he  had  obtainci  important  information  as  to 
the  movementsob  this  side  and  returned  to 
to  the  Americans,  they  might  have  retained 
him  at  Fort  George  till  after  the  other  pris- 
oners had  beei  marched  away,  and  then 
when  no  resistalcc  could  be  made,  have  put 
him  to  death." 

''What  becami  of  himf  asked  Harry. 

''He  took  off  Ks  shoes  and  his  coat,"  said 
the  Captain,  "andas  if  idly  sauntering  about, 
he  came  near  th^sentinel,  and  watching  his 
opportunity,  he  nshed  by  him  ♦owards  the 
river.  The  sentinel  fired  his  musket  at  him 
without  effect,  and  before  another  gun  could 
be  fired  he  had  leapd  into  the  water.  There 
was  a  rush  made  t\  the  bank  of  the  river 
near  which  the  ForC  stood;  but  on  leaping 
in,  knowing  that  he  Wbuld  be  fired  upon,  he 
had  i^lunged  under  witer,  and  keeping  his 
breath,  he  had  swum  scme  distance  out  into 
the  stream,  and  had  beei^  carried  down  some 
considerably  by  the  curr,)nt  before  he  rose 
to  the  surface.  Several  guis  were  dischar^- 
ed  at  him  the  moment  his\^head  appeared, 
also  witiiout  eflect.  He  only  took  a  single 
breath,  and  again  disappeared  under  water." 


II 


INCIDENT'S. 


95 


forces, 
n  as  to 
ned  to 
stained 
3r  pris- 
d  then 
ive  put 

,"  said 
about, 
Ing  his 
'ds  the 
at  him 
1  could 
There 
;  river 
eaping 
on,  he 
ng  his 
it  into 
1  some 
e  rose 
charg- 
learcd, 
single 
mter." 


In  the  mean  time  the  attention  of  the  sen- 
tries at  Fort  Niagara  on  the  American  side 
had  been  attracted  by  the  firing-  and  observ- 
ing a  man  in  the  water,   they^guessed  the 
cause,  and  sent  out  a  small   bqat  from  the 
northern  angle  of  the  fort  for  thfe  purpose  of 
picking  him  up.     He  had,  by  swimming  and 
by  the  aid  of  the  curfent,  passed  quite  out 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Hver,  and,  being  now 
beyond  the  reach  of  Usket  shots  from  the 
other  side,  was  taker!  in  and  carried  to  the 
American  fort."         i  * 

"But  why,"  askef  Harry,  "did  they  not 
fire  upon  the  boat  fifcin  their  batteriesr' 

"The  boat  was  sijiall,"  answered  the  Cap- 
tain; "and  could  i^t  easily  have  been  hit. 
And  besides,  if  fiing  had  been  begun  by 
them  on  one  of  ourboats,  our  batteries  would 
have  returned  thq  fire.  They  did  not  want 
to  have  another  ^ght  with  us  till  they  had 
disposed  of  the  prisoners  they  then  had." 

"Would  he  hate  been  executed  had  he  not 
escaped,"  asked  Harry. 

"I  don't  knofw,"  said  the  Captain;  "I 
thought  his  chance  of  hanging  was  better 
than  that  of  bding  drowned  or  shot.     I  told 


96 


INCIDENTS. 


him  to  dive  ^d  swim  like  a  fish,  only  com- 
ing up  for  bWath." 

"He  followed  your  directions  well,"  said 
Harry.         /  j. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  -I  could  not  have 
done  it  better  myself.  He  was  quite  exhaus- 
ted when  he  was  t^ken  in,  and  could  not 
have  held  out  muchH)nger." 

"He  would  have  svum  easier,"  said  Har- 
ry, "if  he  had  stripped  off  all  his  clothes." 

"That  is  true,"  sai4  the  Captain;  ^'but  he 
had  no  time  for  cerertonies;  for  soon  after 
we  were  all  called  up  ^nd  counted,  and  sent 
to  our  barracks  for  the^iight  so  as  to  be  rea- 
ciy  for  our  march  |t.day.break  the  next 
morning."  > 

Harry  jiere  asked  if  the  prisoners  were 
taken  across  the  lake  and  down  the  river. 

"I  don't  know  exactly  liow  that  was,"  said 
the  Captain;  -q  think  thpy  went  partly  by 
land  and  partly  by  watet-.  But  I  want  to 
tell  you  of  another  incident  at  Fort  George. 
On  the  same  day  there  a^tL  to  our  barracks 
and  entered  almost  unpeAjeived,  a  young 
woman  who  first  attracted  attention  by  the 
apparently  unconcerned  mannpr  in  ivhir^K  oU- 


INCIDENTS. 


97 


ly  com- 

II,"  said 

ot  have 
3xhaus- 
uld  not 

d  Har- 

les." 
but  he 
n  after 
id  sent 
be  rea- 
e  next 

I  were 
I'er. 
,"  said 
•tly  by 
ant  to 
eorge. 
rracks 
young 
3y  the 
3h  she 


entered.     She  was  of  middle  size,  of  fair 
complexion  and  in  the  fullness  of  health  and 
strength,  and   by  some  was  even   thought 
handsome.     But  her  beauty  seemed   to  be 
saddened  by  some  feeling  too  deep  for  tears; 
and  yet  she  walked  erect   and   apparentlv 
without   the   least   fear.      The   courage   of 
woman  is  strong  where  man's  k  weak.     In- 
deed where  her  feehngs  and. affections  are 
enlisted,  cowardice  is  unknown  to  the  sex 
We  had  but  just  time  to  notice  her,  before 
she  inquired  of  an  officer  she  met,  if  he  knew 
Thomas  Doyle. 

**Doyle  was  well  known  to  most  of  the 
prisoners,  and  was  in  fact  rather  a  favorite 
among   them.     By  his  companions  he  was 
familiarly  called  Tom.     Whoever  knew  Tom 
was  always  ready  to  declare  that  he  was  a 
good  fellow.     He  was  the  son  of  a  widow 
and  he  had  been  married  but  a  short  time 
before  enlisting  in  the  service.     He  had  told 
rne  of  the  mental  struggles  of  his  mother  and 
his  young  wife,  when  he  determined  to  join 
the  army.     Their  opposition  was  strong  at 
first,  but  gradually  yielded,  and  when  once 
tneir  mmrla  xxt^^-^^  .^^^^  ..       .1 

"" ^"  ^'^'^  *"«"^'  lip,  mey  were  not  to 

9 


98 


INCIDENTS. 


m  i 


^  be  changed.  They  had  done  with  feehng 
then,  and  nothing  was  thought  of  but  how 
to  get  him  ready  as  soon  as  possible." 

^'Thomas  Doyle!"  said  the  officer,  "what 
do  vou  want  of  himi" 

-1  am  his  wife,"  said  she,   ^'and  I  have 

come  to  see  him."  % 

-'The  officer  did  not  know  him,  but  her 
inquiries  were  overheard  by  some  of  the 
p^'isoners,  Who  anxious  to  relieve  her  from 
all  doubt,  cried  out  at  the  top  of  their  voices 
for  Tom  Doyle,  and  the  next  moment  she 

was  in  his  arms. 

^'Doyle  was  a  young  man  and  a  true  sol- 
dier. He  had  been  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight,  and  though  he  was  but  a  common 
soldier,  he  had  particularly  attracted  the 
notice  of  the  commanding  officer  for  his 
bravery.  He  had  received  several  wounds, 
but  had  not  been  disabled.  His  wife  had  not 
before  known  since  the  battle,  whether  he 

•was  living  or  dead." 

^'Fannyl"  said  he,  when  he  had  a  little 

recovered  from  his  surprise,^'where  did  you 

come  fromf'  - 

<^0  Thomas,"  said  she,  "I  have  been  iook-p 
ing  for  you  ever  since  the  battle.    I  knew' 


INCIDENTS. 


99 


you  would  be  regardless  of  danger,  and  I 
did  not  expect  to  see  you  alive.     I  looked  " 


id  she. 


all  th( 


(led  thi 


among  an  me  woundea  mat  were 
brought  over  the  river.  1  had  almost  hoped 
to  find  you  there.  I  thought  if  you  had  but 
lost  a  leg  or  an  arm,  I  could  have  been  hap- 
py to  find  you  alive." 

''How  did  you  get  across  here,  Fanny," 
said  he. 

*'0  I  crossed  the  day  after  the  battle.  I 
thought  if  you  were  not  among  the  wounded, 
you  would  surely  be  among  the  dead.  I 
went  where  they  were  brought  together,  and 
laid  along  in  rows  to  look  for  you;  and  men 
were  carrying  away  other  bodies  to  bury 
them,  and  I  hurried  away  to  look  at  them 
too,  fearing  you  might  be  buried  before  I 
should  know  it.  But  my  heart  grew  sick 
with  the  sight;  and  the  next  I  knew,  I  found 
myself  in  a  boat  going  back  to  the  American 
shore.  I  had  fainted  and  been  brought  away, 
and  the  motion  of  the  boat  and  the  refresh- 
ing breeze  upon  the  river  had  brought  me 
to  again." 

''Thank  God  I  am  alive  to  meet  you  Fan- 
ny.    But  where  did  you  come  from  now?" 


m 


*■ 


100 


INCIDENTS. 


"0,"  said  she,  **I  came  on  foot  to  Fort 
Niagara,  and  have  been  trying  every  day 
to  contrive  some  plan  to  get  across;  and  to- 
day I  looked  out  for  a  Httle  boat,  and  as  it 
grew  dark,  I  paddled  up  stream  in  the  still 
water,  so  that  in  crossing,  I  should  not  be 
carried  belov^r  the  fort;  and  then  I  paddled 
across,  and  the  sentinels  let  me  pass." 

"It  was  with  deep  grief,"  said  the  Captain, 
"that  Fanny  learned  that  her  husband  was 
to  start  the  next  morning  at  day-break  for 
Montreal.     She  wanted  to  go  with  him;  but 
the    British   officers  would    not   permit   it. 
With  a  heavy  heart  she  saw  her  husband 
marched  out  with  the  rest  of  tlie  prisoners; 
and  she  took  her  leave  of  him  with  a  true 
woman's  courage.     But  the  glow  of  patriot- 
ism was  kindled  anew  in  her  bosom,  and  the 
secret  vow  she  then  made,  was  kept  a  few 
days  afterwards  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Niagara,  as  I  shall  tell  you  when  I  come  to 
speak  of  that  fortress." 

"She  was  a  brave  one,"  said  Harry. 
"When  women  were  found  to  have  so  much 
courage,  how  could  men  have  been  such 
uowarus,  as  luusu  vvcic  \yii\j  i^iua\^^  w  ^av,^>^ 
the  riverl" 


INCIDENTS. 


101 


Fort 
V  day 
nd  te- 
as it 
le  still 
lot  be 
addled 


'1 


^•If  their  wives  and  mothers,  had  all  been 
like  Fanny  Doyle,"  said  the  Captain,  "we 
had  succeeded,  and  she  might  have  seen  her 
husband  with  a  victorious  band  on  the  heights 
of  Queenston  instead  of  a  prisoner  at  Fort 
George.'* 


aptain, 
id  was 
lak  for 
m;  but 
mit   it. 
usband 
soners; 
a  true 
patriot- 
md  the 
t  a  few 
of  Fort 
jome  to 

Harry. 
0  much 
jn  such 


.^ji 


i 


CHAPTER  IX. 


11 
t 


It 


THE  BURIAL  OF  BROCK. 

^'Before  proceeding  to  describe  to  you  how 
I  escaped  from  imprisonment,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, "I  must  tell  you  about  the  monument. 
It  stands  on  the  battle  ground  and  near  the 
spot  where  General  Brock  fell/' 

*'Was  it  built,"  said  Harry,  **in  hdnor  of 
him,  or  to  commemorate  the  battlel" 

*4t  serves  both  purposes,"  said  the  Captain; 
"but  I  think  it  was  built  chiefly  in  honor  of 
the  memory  of  General  Brock." 

Harry  here  inquired  if  his  remains  were 
buried  under  the  monument.  ♦ 

"At  the  time  of  his  death,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, "he  was  buried  near  by;  yonder  I  think 
is  the  spot,  not  far  from  that  small  tree.  At 
his  burial,  I  have  heard  it  related  with  pride 
by  British  officers — the  solemnities  of  the 
occasion  were  very  imposing.  All  the  sol- 
diers at  this  fortress  were  drawn  up  in  reg- 


THE    BURIAL    OP   BROCK. 


103 


with  badges  of  mourning,  all  showing  signs 
of  deep  and  unaffected  grief.     The  hearse 
was  not  there,  but  there  was  the  dead  body 
and  the  coffin^  the  pall  and  the  rustic  bier, 
borne  by  his  trusty  soldiers.     With  him  they 
had  tried  their  courage  in  battle,  and  he  had 
fallen   by    their   side.     Following   this  was 
upon  another  bier  the  body  of  McDonald. 
His  aid  had  not  only  followed  him  to  the 
field  of  danger,  but  he  had  passed  with  him 
the  gates  of  death,  and  was  now  following 
him  to  the  grave.     The  music  that  poured 
•  forth  its  saddened  strains  awakened  in  the 
mind  the  deepest  sorrow.     A  spirit,  noble  in 
their  eyes,   had  fled  from  their  camp,  and 
theirs  was  the  duty  to  bear  his  body  to  its 
final   resting  place.     The  procession' moves 
on,  and,  as  at  the  burial  of  the  Moorish  hero, 

*AII  mournfully  and  slowly 
The  afflicted  M4arriors  come, 

To  the  deep  wail  of  the  trumpet 
And  the  bsat  of  muffled  drum."         , 

**And  then,"  continued  the  Captain,  "th?  ' 
procession  was  preceeded  by  the  Chaplain; 
and  as  he  began  the  beautiful  burial  service 
of  the  English  Church;—"!  am  the  resurec- 
tioa  and  the  life,'-  and  they  moved  slowly 


104 


THE   BURIAL    OF    BROCK. 


cn,  it  seemed,  even  to  the  victorious  party, 
the  most  exciting  scene  they  had  witnessed 
on  that  hill.     And  when  they  heard  from  his 
lips,   the  words;— *he  that  believeth  in  me, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live;  and' 
whosoever  livoth  and  believeth  in  me  shall 
never  die,'  the  hearts  of  all  were  comforted. 
The  soul  of  their  deceased  brother  had  been 
taken  out  of  this  world,  and  as  they  committed 
*his  body  to  the  ground;  earth  to  earth,  ashes 
to  ashes,  dust   to  dust,'  they  felt  the  words 
of  the  Psalmist,  that  'every  man  living  is 
altogether  vanity,'     *'And  I  hope"  continued 
the  Captain,    "that   every   man   there  was 
'looking  for  the  general  resurrection  at  the 
last  day,  and  the  ITe  of  the  world  to  come.' 

*'It  must  have  been  a  fine  sight,  solemn  as 
it  was,"  said  Harry;  "and  1  should  like  to 
hijve  seen  such  a  ceremony,  even  at  the 
burial  of  an  enemv,  and  I  could  not  but  have 
regretted  his  death,  though  it  might  have 
been  favorable  to  our  cause." 

"There  was  anolher  thing,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, "that  took  place  there  which  was  no  less 
honorable  to  our  country  and  her  brave  sol- 
diers,  than  it  was  to  the  memory  of  General 


# 


THE    BURIAL    OP    BROCK. 


105 


an( 


1 


Brock.  While  the  funeral  ceremony  was 
going  on,  the  guns  of  the  American  fort 
were  fired  as  a  tribute  of  respect  to  a  brave 
and  generous  enemy.  Though  they  gave 
forth  the  same  sound  as  on  the  battle-day, 
far  different  was  the  message  conveyed  by 
their  voices.  Then  they  breathed  defiance 
and  threatened  destruction;  jow  they  spoke 
the  language  of  sympathy  and  sorrow.  Then 
they  sent  death  on  the  gale;  now  they  told 
of  comfort  and  consolation  to  the  living  and 
of  honor  to  the  dead." 

"I  do  not  see,"  said  Harry,  *'how  the 
Americans  could  show  so  much  honor  to  an 
enemy,  who  had  permitted  the  barbarities 
committed  by  the  Indians,  on  the  bodies  of 
the  Americans." 

^'General  Brock,"  said  the  Captain,  ^'had 
fallen  before  mat  time,  and  we  have  no  right 
to  suppose  that  he  would  have  permitted, 
much  more  have  justified  any  such  acts;  and 
it  is  the  more  honorable  to  us,  that  we  were 
not  kept  from  the  performance  of  a  generous 
act  towards  an  enemy  on  account  of  the 
wrongs  done  by  them  to  our  people.  We 
should  know  how  to  be  enemies  in  war,  and 
in  peace  friends." 


^ 


HH 

1 

IfflH,  P' 

t 

ll 

1 

L  'ii 

'    J.I'' 

1 

1 

[i|t|  iW'i 

1 

106 


THE   BURIAL    OF    BROCK. 


"Let  us  go  up  to  the  Monument,"  said 

Harry. 

*'We  can  go  to  the  top  of  it,"  said   the 

Captain. 

As  they  were  approaching  it,  they  ob- 
served an  old  man  come  out  of  a  small 
house  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  follow  up  a 
winding  pathway  that  led  to  the  spot  where 

it  stood. 

-Here."  said  the  Captain,  *'under  this  mon- 
ument is  a  vault  to  which  the  remams  of 
the  British  General  have  been  transferred. 
There  is  a  winding  stair-case  by  which  we 
can  ascend.     Over  the  door  that  leads  to  it, 
Harry,  is  an  inscription.     Let  us  see  w'hat 
it  is;  you  can  read  it  better  than  I  can." 
Harry  read  it.     It  was  in  these  words: 
"The   Le^^iskiture  of  Upper  Canada,   has 
dedicated   du's  monument  to  the  many  civil 
and  military  services  of  the  late  Sir  Isaac 
Brock,  Knight,  commander  of  the  most  Hon- 
orablj'ordrr  of  tha  Bath,  Provincial   Lieu- 
tenant Governor  and  Major  General  com- 
manding Ills  majesty's  forces  therein.     He 
fell  in  action  on   the  IHth  of  October  1812, 
honored  and   beloved   by   those   whom  fee 


THE    BUKIAL    OF    BROCK. 


107 


'  said 

d   the 

y  ob- 

sniall 

V  up  a 

where 

s  mon- 
ains  of 
fcrred. 
ich  we 
s  to  it, 
e  what 
1." 
ids: 
la,  has 
ly  civil 
r  Isaac 
3t  Hon- 
1   Li  cu- 
ll coriv- 
n.     He 
r  1812, 
lom   \iQ 


governed,  and  deplored  by  his  sovereign  to 
whose  service    his    lite  had    been   devoted. 


ited  in  th 


nis  vault,  as 


lit, 


His.  remains  are  deposited  in 
also  his  Aid-de-Camp,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
John  McDonald,  who  died  of  his  wounds  the 
14th  day  of  October  1812,  received  the  day 
before  in  action. '^ 

The  monument  is  built  of  stone,  and  is  said 
to  be  one  hundred  and  twenty  six  feet  high. 
It  stands  upon  a  large  square  base,  the  foun- 
dation of  which  is  elevated  a  few  steps  from 
the  ground;  but  the  main  part  is  round.  It 
has  an  imposing  aspect  when  seen  at  a  dis- 
tant e,  but  on  a  near  approach  its  appearance 
is  rather  sublime  than  beautiful. 

"Now  let  us  go  up  and  take  a  view  from 
the  top,"  said  ihj  Captain. 

They  ascended  the  steps  and  tried  the 
door,  but  it  was  secured  by  a  strong  lock. 
This  was  a  bar  to  their  further  progress. 
Thoy  were  turning  to  go  away,  when  the 
old  man  they  had  seen  coming  up  the  hill, 
approached  them.  He  had  in  his  hand  a 
large  key,  and  he  kindly  olfered  to  unlock 
the  door  and  let  them  go  up. 

He  opened  it,  and  they  entered.  ,The 
stair-case,  is  broad^  but  rather  dark  from  the 


1^ 

li 


108 


THE   BURIAL    OF    BROCK. 


^^^^H      ^  m^^l 

m 

^^H  jfflH 

IL 

III 

II 

1 

^H 

IH^^B  1' 

^H 

I 

I 

I 

1 

^1  i 

mm 

^lil 

Utt 

■1 

lit, 

11 

smallness  of  the  windows,  and  their  great 
distance  from  each  other. 

**you  can  go  up  Harry,  as  fast  as  you 
like,"  said  the  Captain,  *'but  I  shall  be  more 
slow.  Count  the  steps  as  you  go,  and  we 
can  judge  whether  it  is  as  high  as  it  is  called." 
Harry  proceeded,  counting  the  steps  au- 
dibly as  he  went,  and  in  due  time  he  reached 
the  top,  nearly  out  of  breath.  He  approach- 
the  open  door,  but  scarcely  dared  to  venture 
out  on  the  balcony;  and  when  the  Captain 
came  up  he  found  him  holding  on  with  both 
hands  to  the  sides  of  the  door,  and  gazing 
eagerly  out  on  the  prospect  which  as  yet  he 
could  but  imperfectly  see. 

"There  are  one  hundred  and  seventy 
steps,"  said  Harry. 

"You  can  go  out  safely,"  said  the  Captain, 
"you  see  there  is  an  iron  raihng  which  you 
can  hold  on  to  and  feel  secure." 

Harry  ventured  out  on  this  assurance,  but 
at  first  he  felt  rather  timid.  His  hands  were 
clenched  tightly  to  the  railing,  and  he  looked 
behind  him  as  if  to  see  tb"*  the  monument 
was  still  standing,  and  that  he  was  safe. 
The  prospect  was  large  and  beautiful.    When 


THK     BURIAL    OF    BROCK. 


109 


one  looks  of!"  to  distant  objects,  he  is  in  a 
.  measure  insensible  of  the  great  heiaht  at 
which  he  stands.  But  let  him  look  down- 
wards and  he  feels  as  light  as  a  feather,  and 
he  fears  a  breath  of  air  may  carry  him  away. 
Harry  looked  down,  and  saw  the  old  man 
standing  near  the  base  of  the  monument. 

'*There,"  said  Harry,  ^'see  that  ragged 
boy;  he  has  taken  this  opportunity  to  come 
to  the  monument.  Perhaps  the  old  man 
would  not  let  him  in  if  the  door  was  not  al- 
ready open." 

The  Captain  smiled,  and  told  Harry  that 
the  ragged  boy  he  saw  was  the  old  man  who 
had  opened  the  door  for  them.     Harry  could 
hardly  believe  the  words  of  the  Captain,  but 
he  looked  again;  and  then  he  looked  at  the 
houses  he  had  passed  before  coming  up  the 
hill.     The  roofs  which  alone  he  could  see 
were  no  bigger  in  appearance  than  his  hand. 
Harry  was  now  satisfied,  that  he  was  deceiv- 
ed in  the  appearance  of  objects  below,  by 
the  great  height  at  which  he  stood;  and  he 
held   on   to   the   railing   tighter  than  ever. 
But  as  the  Captain  led  the  way,  he  gathered 
firmness,  and  walked  out   on  the  halcnnv 

10 


f  'a 


i! 

sjfl 


110 


takini 


THE   BURIAL    OF    BROCK. 


of  the  prospect  on  ali  sides. 


l<  !ii^i ; 


1  View 
To  the  south  was  to  be  seen  tne  aarK  cur-  • 
rent  of  the  Niagara  flowing  between   the 
steep  banks  of  the  river,  which  were  fringed 
with  trees  on  either  side,  while  far  in  the 
distance  was  the  thick  cloud  formed  by  the 
spray  from  the  great  Cataract,  rising  upward 
in  a  heavy  column  like  the  smoke  of  a  vol- 
cano.    To   the  north  was   to  be  seen   the 
channel  of  the  Niagara  for  the  whole  dis- 
tance till  it  falls  into  lake  Ontario,  with  Fort 
Niagara  on  one  side  and  Fort  George  on  the 
other.   Beyond  this  was  the  lake  itself,  spread 
out  like  an  immense  sheet  of  glass,  stretching 
away  beyond  the  reach  of  the  human  eye. 
On  the  east  was  to  be  seen  the  well  cultiva- 
ted fields  of  the  Western  part  of  New  York, 
and  to  the  west  the  eye  fell  upon  the  domain 
of  the  British  king.     A  striking  difference 
was  observed  between  these  portions  of  the 
two  countries.    On  the  west  there  was  less 
improvement  than  on  the  east,  though  the 
soil  was  equally  fertile. 

*'This  difference  may  be  owing,"  said  the 
Captain,  *'to  the  different  form  of  Govern- 
w.^.,f  o»,ri   tbo  rlifTprnpt  institutions  existing 

in  the  two  countries." 


THE  BURIAL  OF  BROCK. 


Ill 


*'How,"  said  Harry,  **does  the  govern- 
ment have  any  effect  on  the  cultivation  of 
the  fields?*' 

"Because,"  said  the  Captain,  "men  are  not 
satisfied  vv^ith  the  cultivation  of  the  fields 
alone.  They  do  that  as  a  means  of  subsis- 
tence, but  the  most  enterprising  have  some 
other  purpose  in  view  as  the  chief  object  to 
be  accomplished.  In  the  United  States  the 
highest  offices  are  open  to  all,  w^hile  in  Cana- 
da their  governors  and  many  other  officers 
are  appointed  by  the  government  of  a  dis- 
tant country,  separated  from  them  by  thou- 
sands of  miles  of  ocean.  And  though  a  man 
may  never  expect  or  hope  to  obtain  any  high 
station,  yet  he  prefers  to  live  in  a  country 
w^here  he  is  not  excluded  from  it  by  custom, 
or  by  the  organization  of  the  government." 

As  they  were  turning  to  descend  the  mon- 
ument, Harry  observed  that  the  wooden  door 
leading  out  on  to  the  balcony  was  covered 
with  the  names  of  those  who  had  been  there 
before  him.  Some  were  written  with  a 
pencil,  some  seemed  to  have  been  made  by 
a  sharply  pointed  instrument,  and  many  had 

)ir»r>n  put  \\\T  n  l/nifo  Hp«n  in+rk  fKo  •«imrtr|        HTrt 


112 


THE    BURIAL    OF    BROOK. 


many  names  were  added  dates  and   places 
of  residence.     By  these  Harry  saw  that  for 
many  years  the  monument  had  been  visited 
by  men,  and  women  too,  from  almost  every 
country  in  the  world.     And  when  the  door 
and  all  other  parts  of  wood  had  been  so  cov- 
ered, that  room  could  not  be  found  for  anoth- 
er name,  it   had  been  engraved   upon   the 
stone  itself.     Harry  found  a  small  spot  that 
was  not  filled,  and  scratched  his  name  upon 
it.     He  then  asked  the  Captain  to  mark  his 
name  there  too,  but  he  declined  it,  telling 
Harry  that  his  name  had  been  written  in 
blood  upon  the  heights  of  Queenston,  before 
even  the  foundation  of  the  monument  was 
laid;  and  that  he  had  afterwards  traced  it 
from  his  bleeding  veins  at  many  other  places 
on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  though  that 
column  might  crumble  to  the  ground,  and 
the  records  upon  it  might  perish,  the  waters 
of  the  Niagara  would  never  wash  away  the 
history  of  his  name'. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  YOUNG  SOLDIER. 

Harry  and  the  Captain  had  now  descend- 
ed the  stairs  and  stood  once  more  on  the 
ground.  After  taking  another  survey  of  the 
field  they  were  preparing  to  take  their  leave. 

"Well  Harry,"  said  the  Captain,  *1  think 
I  have  now  told  you  ail  that  is  of  any  inter- 
est relating  to  this  battle." 

"I  have  been  much  pleased  with  it  all," 
said  Harry,  ^'and  now  I  think  we  may  pre- 
pare to  recross  the  river." 

Charles  had  become  impatient  of  his  fa- 
ther's long  stories,  for  he  had  heard  them  all 
many  times  before,  and  long  before  they 
were  finished  he  had  come  down  the  stairs, 
and  was  listening  to  the  conversation  of  the 
old  man,  who  seemed  to  have  charge  of  the 
monument;  and  he  was  now  half  way  to  the 
bank  of  the  river  and  hastening  on  to  get 
the  boat  in  readiness  for  crossing.  But  the 
Captain  now  stumbled  on  to  a  new  incident; 


114 


THE    VOI'XG    SOLDIER. 


and  as  he  was  about  beginning  to  relate  ii, 
he  encountered  a  look  from  the  old  man 
which  was  not  to  be  mistaken;  and  placmg 
in  his  hand  a  small  coin,  at  which  the  old 
man  bowed  politely,  he  proceeded: 

^'Here,"  said  he,  "just  on  this  dechvity, 
occurred  an  incident  I  shall   never  forget. 
Near  this  spot  a  young  soldier  was  wounded 
severely  in  the  leg.     I  had  known  him  from 
a  boy,   and  he  was  now  scarce  seventeen 
years  of  age.     When  he  was  but  a  lad  of 
ten  years  old,  he  was  heard  to  say  that  if  he 
ever  had  a  chance  he  would  be  a  soldier. 
He   had  heard  of  the  military  prowess  of 
Washington  and  some  other  great  men,  and 
by  this  means  his  mind  had  become  imbued 
with  the  military  spirit.     His  father  lived  a 
.  near  neighbor  to  me,  and  I  saw  the  growth 
of  this  feeling  in  the  son.     When  very  young 
he  had  acquired  much  skill  in  the  use  of  the 
rifle,  and  I  had  often  observed  that  he  never 
winked  at  the  discharge,  and  if  he  failed  of 
his  mark,  which  was  rare,  his  rifle  was  re- 
loaded and  ready  for  another  fire  with  aston- 
ishing quickness.     V^  hen  war  was  proclaim- 
ed, his  first  im.pulse  was  to  take  his  rifle,  and 


' 


,tc  it, 

man 

acing 

3  old 


ivity, 
)rget. 
mded 
from 
nteen 
ad  of 
:ifhc 
)ldier. 

3SS   of 

1,  and 
nbued 
Lved  a 
rowth 
young 
of  the 
never 
iled  of 
^as  re- 
aston- 
)claim- 
ie,  and 


i 


H 


THE    YOUNG    SOLIUKR. 


115 


march  to  some  military  post  for  the  purpose 
of  offering  his  services.     But  he  was  pre- 
vented from  doing  this  by  many  consider- 
ations.    The  scene  of  o})erations  was  distant, 
and  his  fathjr  needed  his  assistance  in  culti- 
vating his  little  farm  and  securing  his  crops, 
so  as  to  be  provided  for  the  coming  winter. 
These  objections  passed  away  with  the  pas- 
sing season,  and  when  the  notes  ol'  war  were 
heard  upon  our  frontier,  he  was  anxious  to 
join  the  volunteer  militia.     In  this  desire  he 
was  strongly  opposed   by  his  father,  who, 
though  of  a  brave  and  generous  nature  him- 
self, thought  that  his  son  might  find  a  fit 
excuse  in  his  youth;  and  besides,  his  father 
was  becoming  infirm,  and  he  feared  that  if 
his  son  should  fall  in  battle,  he  and  his  family 
might  be  left  in  a  helpless  condition.     Robert 
Jones  had  calculated   the  force  of  all  these 
objections  in  advance,   and  he  had  his  an- 
swers ready." 

^'The  harvest  is  now  in,  father,"  said  he, 
*'and  1  can  be  spared  on  that  score." 

''But,"  said  his  father,  '*I  fear  that  if  you 
should  be  killed  in  battle  I  should  be  left 
alone." 


r 


116 


#111   YOUNG    SOLDIER. 


*'lf  I  should  fall,;  said  Robert,  "in  the 
(smm  of  the  country,  and  the  country  be 
victorioi's,  you  will  find  friends  ready  to 
asssist,  in  the  hour  of  need,  one  who  has 
devoted  his  son  to  her  service.  But  if  we 
should  be  conquered,  neither  my  life  nor 
yours  would  be  worth  possessing.  If  I  sur- 
vive a  vanquished  field,  you  will  not  be  the 
worse  for  my  having  been  engaged  in  the 
war.  But.  should  I  survive  a  victorious  one, 
how  great  will  be  your  satisfaction  to  know 
that  I  contributed  to  secure  the  liberty  you 

will  enjoyf 

These  were  arguments  that  could  not  well 
be  answered;  but  the  end  of  it  was  that 
Bobert's  Father,  urged  by  the  suggestions 
and  fears  of  his  own  mind  and  by  that  affec- 
tion which  a  mother  always  feels  for  her 
son,  forbade  his  going;  and  this  he  thought 
would  be  the  end  of  the  matter.  Kct  so 
with  Robert.  Though  he  seemed  to  suioiiit, 
his  mind  was  filled  with  his  favorite  idea. 
His  f  ther  and  mother  thought  they  discov-" 
ered  e  '-a.  si?r«?s  of  disquietude  in  his  mind, 
but  dKl  V  t  ^oubt  that  he  would  be  govern- 
ed by  their  wishes.    But  to  make  it  all  the 


THE    YOL\0    SOLDIER. 


117 


sure,  they  hinted  their  feelings  to  their  neigh- 
bors, some  of  whom  felt  a  warm  interest  in 
Robert.  To  the  pursuasions  of  father  and 
mother  were  now  added  those  of  another,  to 
say  the  least,  not  Jess  dear  to  him.  '     * 

^^You  won't  go,  will  you  Robert,''  said 
Mary  Brown,  as  they  were  walking  together 
just  at  the  evening  twilight. 

Robert  would  have  avoided  the  inquiring 
and  beseeching  look  of  her  hazel  eyes,  but 
that  he  had  always  delighted  to  look  upon 
them,  and  he  could  not  now  turn  away.  lie 
had  studied  her  heart  as  well  as  her  eyes. 
He  knew  the  power  which  he  had  over  her 
young  mind.  He  repeated  to  her  the  argu- 
ments he  had  used  v/ith  his  father. 

"Your  reasons  are  good,"  said  Mary,  ^^but 
what  comfort  will  your  arguments  give  me, 
if  you  go  and  are  cut  down  in  battle?" 

^'But  if  I  go  and  return  again,"  said  Rob- 
ert, '^how  much  more  worthy  shall  I  be  of 
you  than  if  I  check  my  better  inclinations  and 
refuse?  And  then,  Mary,  if  I  fall  it  will  be 
more  honorable  for  you,  to  have  had  the  love 
of  one,  who  has  nobly  died  in  the  service  of 
..!«  country,  tiian  of  a  mait  who,  because  he 


umM&^Mi^. 


f!.l 


m 

m 


118 


THE    YOUNG    SOLDIER. 


possessed  the  love  of  woman,  did  not  seek 
the  glory  of  the  soldier." 

'^Though   Mary  was  not   convinced   she 
was  silent.     Her  calculations  of  the  chances 
•of  fame  were  not  so  coolly  made  as  Robert  s, 
yet  she  feard  to  control  him,  even  if  it  were 
in  her   power.     She   knew   that   he   could 
never  bear  to  have  it  said  that  he  had  been 
dictated  to  by  a  woman.     And  in  truth  these 
reasons  had  some  weight  with  Robert  him- 
self    In   order   to   determine   his   duty  he 
would  imagine   himself  entered  upon   any 
course  of  action,  and  then  put  himself  m  the 
attitude  of  a  critic  upon  his  own  conduct, 
and  he  would  resolve  on  nothing  that  would 
not  bear  the  test  of  his  own  approval.     His 
mind  was  soon  made  up,  and  Mary  submit- 
ted to  it  with  a  sigh,  but  without  a  murmer. 
"The  blast  of  war  was  already  surround- 
ing on  the  frontier.     Robert  made  all   his 
preparations  secretly,  for  he  did  not  wish 
any  further  argument  with  his  father,  and  he 
feared  the  displeasure  of  his  mother.     On 
the  evening  before  his  intended  march  he 
had  prepared  for  himself  a  rude  knapsack 
made  of  an  old  bag  he  had  found  about  his 


THE    YOUNG    SOLDIEK. 


119 


it  seek 

3d  she 
ihanccs 
Dbert's, 
it  were 
could 
id  been 
;h  these 
rt  him- 
luty  he 
on   any 
f  in  the 
conduct, 
it  would 
al.     His 
submit- 
murmer. 
urround- 
j  all   his 
not  wish 
r,  and  he 
ler.     On 
narch  he 
knapsack 
Libout  his 


lather's  house.  This,  with  his  gun  and  pow- 
der horn  and  bullet  pouch,  constituted  his 
whole  equipage.  He  slept  that  night,  if  he 
slept  at  all,  like  the  soldier  upon  his  arms. 
At  the  first  crowing  of  the  cock  he  was  up, 
and  taking  for  his  provision  by  the  way,  a 
loaf  of  bread,  which  had  been  left  by  his 
mother  in  the  oven  to  bake  over  night,  he 
bent  his  way  to  the  frontier. 

'*There  was  no  little  disappointment  in  his 
father's  house  when  his  absence  was  discov- 
ered. But  they  knew  his  resolution,  and 
that  it  would  be  useless  to  pursue  him  for 
the  purpose  of  trying  to  change  his  mind. 

*'He  pursued  his  way  without  adventure 
of  any  kind,  except  that  he  was  very  near 
shooting  an  Indian  he  met,  by  way  of  expe- 
riment, his  excited  imagination  conjuring 
up  the  notion  in  his  mind  that  the  Indian 
had  been  sent  over  the  river  by  the  Mo- 
hawks, as  an  emissary  of  the  British  General. 
It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  a  few  days  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Queenston,  when  he  reach- 
ed the  Niagara,  near  the  great  Cataract, 
where  he  learned  that  the  main  force  of  the 

,,^.    TTviu  CxxV^wiUL-'vU  ai   i-j^i vviaiOii.       ix 


e 


^^MM^ 


THE    YOUNC.    SOLDIEK. 

turned   his   course  down   the   river  till   he 
reached  the  camp.     He  was  readily  admit- 
ted into  a  tent  by  some  soldiers  where  he 
passed  the  night  in  quiet.     The  next  day  he 
took  a  survey  of  the  preparations  that  were 
going  on  and  soon  became  quite  familiar  with 
the  appearance  of  an  army  preparing   for 
battle.     He  offered  his  services  to  the  com- 
manding officer,  who  did  not  neem  to  be  very 
anxious  that  he  should  join  them,  on  account 
of  his   imperfect  equipments,    his  apparent 
youth  and  small  stature.    But  Robert  thought 
that,  if  he  could  get  across  the  river  on  the 
dayVixed  for  attack,  he  could  fight  on  his 
own  hook.'     Accordingly  when   the  boats 
began  to  cross,  he  stepped  into  ( ne  of  the 
first,    scarcely  noticed   by  any  one  in   the 
excitement  of  the  moment.     He  was  one  of 
the  first  to  set  foot  on  the  Canadian  shore, 
and  was  with  the  party  that  rushed  up  the 
liill,  to  charge  upon  the  battery  which  was 
taken  early  in  the  morning.     He  was  also 
with   the   party  that   achieved   the   second 
victory  that  day,  and  held  out  till  a  surren- 
der had  been  determined  on;  but  long  before 
that  time,  he  w<*s  wouridcd  and  unable  to 


till   he 
admit- 
2YG  he 
day  he 
t  were 
ir  with 
ng   for 
e  com- 
)e  very 
iccount 
3parcnt 
;hought 
on  the 
on  his 
3  boats 
of  the 
in   the 
}  one  of 
L  shore, 
up  the 
ich  was 
v^as  also 
second 
L  surren- 
g:  before 
nable  tf> 


THi:  vou.VG  sorjni:!?. 


1-21 


stand,  but  rising  upfm  his  knees,  he  con- 
tinued to  load  and  fire  till  the  Americans 
were  forced  from  the  s])ot  where  he  stood; 
and  when  the  British  soldiers  and  Indians, 
were  moving  on  like  a  mass  of  dark  waters, 
he  fell  upon  his  face  till  they  had  passed 
over.  After  the  surrender,  as  we  were 
marcliing  up  to  the  point  where  the  British 
General  was,  I  saw  him  raising  himself  upon 
his  knees,  as  if  to  see  who  had  possession  of 
the  field.  The  Indian  warriors  were  at  their 
work,  and  an  upraised  tomahawk  would  have 
fallen  upon  his  head,  had  not  the  arm  of  the 
savage  been  stayed  by  a  young  British  of- 
ficer who  happened  to  be  near.  He  was 
then  picked  up  with  the  rest  of  the  wounded 
and  taken  to  the  American  shore.  His  wound 
did  not  seem  to  be  dangerous,  but  the  poor 
fellow  was  faint  with  the  loss  of  the  blood 
he  had  so  freely  shed  for  the  country  he 
loved.  His  body  was  wounded  by  the  shots 
of  the  enemy,  and  his  heart  was  wounded 
also  by  the  defeat  of  the  American  army. 
Neither  .his  broken  limbs  nor  his  lacerated 
feelings  could  be  healed.     The  flame  that. 

iuvi    iiiD     y  Ouiiw    oi7ii  il    vvao    ia::ii    ulu  illlili    ilS)Cii 


11 


122 


THE    YOUNG    SOLDIER. 


out.     Mary  was  with  him,  and  his  mother 
was  there  to  comfort  him,  and  he  comforted 

them." 

^'You  will  have  the  honor,  mother,  said 
he,  ^'of  having  contributed  your  part  to  the 
defence  of  our  borders.  No  better  gift  can 
be  bestowed  upon  your  country,  than  that  ot 
a  son  willing  to  die  in  its  defence." 

This  was  indeed  a  consolation  to  the  moth- 
er. She  was  equal  to  the  trial  she  was  called 
to*  meet.  In  times  of  real  distress  or  real 
danger  the  courage  of  woman  rises  to  the  full 
heiglt  of  its  sublimity  and  power.  When 
the  heart  of  man  fails  under  domestic  trials 
and  afflictions,  woman's  stands  with  a  firm- 
ness that  cannot  be  shaken,  and  with  a  calm- 
ness that  is  holy. 

''Your  part,  Mary,"  said  he  '^is  greater 
than  mine  in  this  unfortunate  contest.  1 
have  but  given  up  my  body  to  the  call  of 
duty  and  the  promptings  of  ambition;  while 
you  have  not  only  regarded  what  was  your 
duty,  disregarding  the  calls  of  ambition  as 
less  worthy;  but  you  have  also  acted  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  feelings  of  affection  and 
submission  to  the  wishes  of  one  you  loved. 


TlIK    YOUNG    ffOfJilER. 


123 


J  mother 
)mfortccl 


or 


:? 


said 

rt  to  the 

gift  can 

n  that  of 

the  moth- 
^as  called 
3  or  real 
to  the  full 
■.  When 
:stic  trials 
th  a  firm- 
:h  a  calm- 

s  greater 
ontest.  I 
the  call  of 
on;  while 
was  your 
mbition  as 
jted  in  ac- 
3ction  and 
jnw  loved. 


Your  reward  will  be  greater  than  mine,  be- 
cause your  motives  have  been,  if  not  more 
honorable,  at  least  less  selfish." 

*'So,  Mary  and  his  mother  watched  him, 
administering  and  receiving  consolation,  till 
he  died.  And  when  he  was  buried  he  re- 
ceived the  funeral  honors  of  the  soldier. 
The  gay  notes  of  martial  music  were  sad- 
dened by  the  tones  of  the  muffled  drum. 
Hearts  that  could  not  be  moved  by  fear  were 
softened  with  sorrow.  Each  soldier  feels  at 
the  burial  of  a  comrade  as  if  he  was  laying 
a  brother  in  the  grave. 

*'Mary  and  the  mother  of  Robert  now 
felt  that  he  was  not  theirs  alone.  They  saw 
that  his  country  claimed  him,  and  that  she 
had  given  him  to  fame." 

''It  must  have  been  a  great  trial  to  them," 
said  Harry,  "to  see  one  so  young  and  brave, 
and  so  dear  to  them  both,  cut  down  in  so 
early  life." 

*'It  was,"  said  the  Captam;  ''but  many  a 
mother  and  many  a  young  girl  who  loved 
their  country  as  dearly  as  they  did,  had  the 
more  severe  trial  of  seeing  their  sons  and 
brothers    return   to   them,    without    having 


p 


124 


Tin:    vol  XG    SOLDIER. 


done  tlieir  part  in  the  hour  of  their  country's 
need.'' 

Harry  argreed  that  the  Captain  was  right. 

^'I  knew  one  young  man,"  said  the  Cap- 
tain, ^'who  returned  to  his  home  a  day  or 
two  after  the  battle.  He  had  been  wounded 
severely  by  a  musket  ball  in  the  heel.  The 
position  was  such  as  to  show,  that  when  he 
received  it,  he  was  not  facmg  the  enemy. 
He  is  still  alive,  and  limping  along  through 
life;  and  when  the  question  is  asked,  what 
caused  his  lameness,  the  answer  is  that  he 
was  wounded  in  running  away  from  the 
battle  of  Queenston." 

*'I  had  rather  have  the  fame  of  Robert 
.Jones,"  said  Harry,  'Hhan  the  Hfe  of  snch  a 
man." 

"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  ''before  going  to 
battle,  a  man  must  examine  himself  and  see 
if  he  is  equal  to  the  trial  of  courage,  and 
must  make  up  his  mind  to  meet  death  when- 
ever it  shall  come.  Then  there  will  be  for 
liim  life  with  victory  and  liberty,  or  death 
with  an  immortality  of  fame." 


CHAPTER  XI, 


7 


i£ 


•■'a 


THE  BURIAL  GROUND. 

They  had  now  reached  the  boat  which' 
Charles  had  in  readiness,  and  they  were  soon 
across  the  rive;-.    They  turned  one  look  back 
upon  the  dark  green  waters  of  the  Niagara 
and  then  they  went  up  the  hill  by  the  same 
path   they  had   descended.     The   day  was 
now  fast  dechning,  and  the  sun  was  sending 
their  lengthened  shadows,  along  the  ground 
ihey  were   in  a  position  that  commanded 
a  view  of  the  whole  village  of  Lewiston. 
ihere  was  one  spot  now  in  sight  which  they 
had  not  seen  in  the  morning.    It  was  the 
•..village  burying  ground.     It  was  surrounded 
I  Jy  a  rough  but  substantial  fence,  and  the 
i  few  plam  marble  slabs  that  were  seen,  bore 
witness  that  many  were  resting  there  with- 
^out  a   stone   to   tell   their  history.     There 
fhy  many  who  had  fallen  on  the  heights  of 
,,j  ^lueenston.  I^JThe   turf  that   covered  their 

T  _Taves.  and  ivlki/iK  u^a  \ i-  i  .1    .    .     , 

}  \      --7  --—    --"--"  «aw  uuuii  siigntjy  raised, 


^'V 


'%: 


126 


THF,    BURIAL    (JROUND. 


was  now  nearly  sunk  to  a  level  with  the 
surface  of  the  ground;  but  yet  the  position 
of  many  a  one,  without  a  stone  to  tell  the 
name  of  its  inhabitant,  could  be  determined. 
Here  was  a  row  lying  side  by  side,  extend- 
ing nearly  half  across  the  yard,  indicating 
that  they  had  been  made  at  the  same  time. 

^^Death,"  said  the  Captam.  ''had  reaped  a 
great  harvest  on  the  battle-day,  and  here  lay 
his  trophies  in  rows,  like  a  field  of  corn,  as  if 
that  mighty  conqueror  had  planted  there  the 
whole  fruits  of  his  harvest.  God  grant  that 
the  soil  in  wdiich  rests  the  bones  of  so  many 
brave  men,  may  never  again  be  polluted 
by  the  tread  of  an  army,  having  any  scru- 
ples, either  constitutional  or  conscientious,  on 
which  side  of  the  river  it  is  their  duty  to 
attack  the  enemy!'' 

'Here,"  continued  the  Captain,  "is  a  stone 
nearly  overgrown.     Pull  aside  the  grass  and  | 
let  us  read  the  inscription," 

Harry  obeyed  and  the  inscription  was 
read.  It  told  in  simple  language  that  he, 
whose  remains  were  buried  there,  was  killed 
by  a  shot  from  the  enemy  in  crossing  the 
river  on  the  13th  day  of  October  1812;  tha 


THE    BURIAL    GROUND.  127 

he  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  an  honest  man 
and  that  his  death  was  lamented  by  all  who 
•     knew  him. 

"All  there  is  of  glory  in  this  world,"  said 
the  Captain,  "is  written  upon  that  stone.     Ho 
had  lived  his   appointed  time,  fulfilline  the 
duties  that  belonged  to  his  condition  in  life. 
1  aken  from  the  world  by  an  honorable  death 
he  was  delivered  from  the  cares  and  anxie- 
ties, the  snares  and  temptations  that  contin- 
ually crowd  around  the  path  of  every  human 
benig;  but  the  place  of  his  rest,  as  well  as  the' 
friends  he  left  behind  him,  have  given  him 
an  honorable  name." 

They  paused  again,  to  look  upon  a  stone 
that  had  fallen  down  and  was  resting  upon 
a  grave.     It  was  of  moderate  size,  of  grav 
sandstone,  and  bore  the  marks  of  the  'cor- 
roding tooth  of  time.'    Harry  and  Charles 
lifted  It  up  while  the  Captain  read  the  in- 
scription upon  it.     This  told  that  the  posses- 
jsor  of  the  narrow  house  below  was  killed 
by  a  shot  in  the  breast,  on  the  heights  of 
jQueenston  on  the  day  of  that  battle. 
,    "Here  too,"  said  the  Canfnm   ";„ 


% 


ord 


Here  too,"  said  the  Captain,  "is"  the  re- 

ought 


-"fr— '"•■"""*■ 


-^ar 


128 


THE    BURIAL    GROUND. 


iS.h 


I 


when  grecian  mothers  gave  birth  to  men. 
The  great  and  crowning  act  in  the  life  of  the 
soldier,  the  noble  consummation  of  his  exis- 
tence, is  a  heroic  death." 

'•I  have  told  you,"  said  the  Captain,  'Hhc 
story  of  Robert  J  ones.     He  was  buried  here. 
His  grave  is  without  a  stone.    There  it  is  in 
that  little  enclosure.     His  fame  is  more  true 
than  that  of  most  men.     Tt  lives  without  a 
monument  to  bear  the  record.     That-which 
is  written  on  marble  sometimes  is  worn  away 
by  time,   and  is  not  always  true;  but  that 
which  lives  in  the  hearts  of  mei',  like  truth, 
will  endure  forever." 

''I  should  think,"  said  Harry,  ^Hhat  one  of 
his  courage  deserved  a ,  stone  to  mark  the 
spot  of  his  burial,  if  for  nothing  more." 

»'That,"  said  the  Captain,  "must  be  known 
to  all  his  friends,  and  his  fame  is  known 
to  all  who  read  the  history  of  that  bloody 

fight." 
'       ^'And  Mary!"  said  Harry,   ''how  did  she 

bear  her  grief  1" 

<'Like  a  true  and*  noble  hearted  girl  as  she 
was,"  said  the  Captain.     "Many  a  tear  ha 


pped  upon 


his  crrnve.    She  used  t 


/ 


;w' 


Tin:  nT'KiAL  cjuorxi). 


120 


men. 
of  the 
3  exis- 

i,  'Hhc 
[  here. 
it  is  in 
:e  true 
:hout  a 
•which 
laway 
Lit  that 
;  truth, 

,  one  of 
ark  the 

5) 


go  there  and  plant  the  first  young  flowers  of 
spring,  and,  almost  with  a  joyous  grief,  relate 
to  the  passers-by  the  story  of  his  death. 
She  was  not  an  ordinary  woman,  and  hers 
was  not  a.  common  loss.  He  was  his  coun- 
try's, and  she,  young  as  she  was  in'  her  wid- 
owed woe,  mourned  for  herself  and  her 
country  too." 

''She  was  a  noble  spirit,"  said  Harry,  '^and 
if  the  militia  who  stood  here  gazing  at  the 
battle,  had  been  composed  of  such  women 
as  she,  they  would  have  gone  over  and  se- 
cured the  victory  for  us." 

The  Captain  had  walked  on  to  a  distant 
part  of  the  ground  where  he  saw  a  little 
girl  just  going  away  from  a  new  made  grave. 
They  all  walked  up  to  it,  and  saw  that  the 
turf  was.  freshly  cut,  and  that  the  first  rain 
had  not  fallen  since  the  burial. 
^  ''I  always  like,"  said  the  Captain,  <'to  see 
Httle  girls  in  a  burying  ground.  Their  sweet 
faces  are  made  more  beautiful  by. the  tear  of 
afTection  that  falls  on  the  grave  of  a  cherished 
friend.  Perhaps  she  has  lost  a  father  or 
a  mother,  and  has  been  to  weep  at  th  j  grave. 
I  would  hnvo  inquired,   l)nt  I  would   not  wll- 


,{  ■■{ 


r 


k^'Jm&i^-i 


130 


TIIK    HI  lUAL    fJROnXD. 


I      i 


lingly  open  anew  the  fountains  of  grief  in 
lier  young  heart,  broken,  as  perhaps  it  may 
be  now.  God  will  be  a  father  to  her,  and 
preserve  her  in  his  holy  keeping." 

They  were  walking  thoughtfully  on,  and 
had  nearly  finished  their  survey  of  the 
ground,  when  the  Captain,  who  could  not 
drive  from  his  mind  the  image  of  the  little 
girl,  and  the  recollections  it  called  up,  found 
himself  transported  back  to  the  period  of  the 
war.  That  with  him  scarcely  belonged  to 
the  past.  It  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  the 
hving. present. 

''When  I  was  returning  home,"  said  the 
Captain,  *'after  the  taking  of  Fort  George 
m  May  1813,  I  passed  through  here,  and  I 
am  now  reminded  by  this  little  girl  of  what 
I  then  saw.  It  was  a  young  girl  planting  a 
rose  bush  and  some  flowers  upon  a  grave. 
I  did  not  disturb  her  in  this  work  of  affec- 
tionate remembrance,  for  1  saw  she  was 
engaged  in  a  labor  of  love.  She  would  not 
handle  rudely  even  the  earth  that  was  to 
nourish  and  support  these  emblems  of  love. 
As  she  was  placing  their  roots  in  the  ground, 
she  knelt   upon   the  green  turf  beside  the 


THi:    BURIAL    GROUND. 


131 


•ief  in 
t  mav 
and 


•7 


I,  and 
•f  the 
id  not 
'.  little 
found 
of  the 
^ed  to 
Df  the 

id  the 
Jeorge 
and  I 
what 
iting  a 
grave. 
f  affec- 
e  was 
lid  not 
^as  to 
f  love. 
;round, 
do  the 


( 


grave,  and  I  fancied  that  1  saw  her  lips  move 
as  if  in  prayer.  Much  as  I  wished  to  know 
whose  grave  she  was  thus  beautifying  and 
adorning,  I  would  not,  for  any  gratification 
that  that  would  give,  violate  the  sanctity  of 
her  feelings  by  making  the  inquiry. 

"While  I  was  w^atching  her  work,  another 
visiter  approached  less  cautious  than  myself, 
who  asked  whose  grave  it  was." 

*'It  is  my  fathers.  He  was  killed  in  the 
battle  over  there,"  said  she,  ''pointing  to  the 
heights  of  Queenston. 

"Have  you  a  mother,"  said  the  stranger. 

"I  have,"  baid  she,  "a  mother  and  one  sis- 
ter. I  had  one  brother  but  he  was  killed  in 
the  battle  too.  His  grave  is  right  there  by 
the  side  of  my  father's." 

As  she  said  this,  the  tears  were  seen 
trickling  down  her  cheeks.  The  stranger 
saw  that  he  had  touched  a  tender  chord,  and 
was  silent. 

"I  always  loved  little  children,"  said  the 
Captain,  "but  I  love  them  the  more  for  what 
I  have  seen  here.  These  little  girls  will  yet 
be  women,  and  will  have  such  a  hold  on  the 
hearts  of  men,  as  will  enable  them  to  exert 


^> 


Ili2 


THK    HI  RIAL    (;i{(KM). 


Il 

1 

an  influence  and  a  power  over  the  society  it 
may  be  their  fortune  to  mingle  with.  They 
already  have,  I  am  sure,  a  cliaracter  that  is 
decided;  and  if  circumstances  should  place 
them  in  difficult  and  trying  scenes,  their  acts 
will  be  as  honorable  to  themselves  as  those 
of  Fanny  Doyle  and  Mary  Brown." 

The  Captain  was  right  in  his  appreciation 
of  the  character  and  influence  of  woman. 
Her  power  ever  has  been,  and  ever  will  be 
felt  and  acknowledged.  A  few  Roman  ma- 
trons once  saved  their  city  from  the  scourge 
of  war,  when  her  armies  w^ere  not  equal  to 
the  task  of  resisting  the  threatened  danaer. 
The  discoverer  of  the  new  world  found  in 
the  Queen  of  Castile  his  best  friend  and  pa- 
tron. But  there  has  been  a  greater  than 
these.  No  woman,  but  she  that  gave  birth 
to  the  savior  of  the  world,  ever  received  so 
high  and  so  deserved  honor,  as  she  on  whose 
tomb  is  inscribed,  *'Mary  the  Mother  Wash- 
ington." •      , 

Harry  fully  appreciated  all  that  the  Cap- 
tain said  on  this  subject;  and  then  he  thought 
of  his  mother,  and  how  she  watched  over 
and  protected  his  infancy  and  boyhood,  and 


THJ:    liURIAL    (GROUND. 


VSS 


•iety  it 
They 

that  is 
place 

ir  acts 
those 

ciation 
'Oman, 
vill  bo 
in  ma- 

20UrQ-c 

o 

ual  to 
an  O'er, 
and  in 
nd  pa- 
f  than 
3  birth 
red  so 
whoso 
Wash- 

3  Cap- 
lought 
[  over 
d,  and 


of  the  many  good  counsels  she  had  given 
him;  .and  he  promised,  within  himself,  never 
to  depart  from  them.  The  Captain  saw  that 
Harry  was  reflecting  on  what  had  been  told 
him,  and  he  continued: 

'Tes,"  said  he,  ^^look  where  you  will,  and 
you  will  find  evidence  of  the  goodness  and 
purity  of  the  heart  of  woman.     She  is  with 
the  suffering  and  the  distressed  everywhere. 
Affliction  has  seemed  to  me,  sometimes,    to 
be  sent  into  this  world,  that  the  relief  which 
It  receives  at  her  hands  may  develop  the 
noblest  and  best  feelings  of  her  nature.    Want 
comes  also,  that  it  may  produce  an  overflow 
of  her  generous  heart.     Charity,  the  best  of 
christian  virtues,  is  always  with  her.     She 
follows  the  object  of  her  affections  through 
every  scene  cf  trial  and  danger.     She  goes 
to  the  prison-house  to  administer  comfort  to 
the  chfldren  of  disobedience;  and  though  they 
may  be  cut  oflf  from  society  by  the  laws  of 
the  land,   they  are  not  separated  from  the 
kindliest  oflices  of  humanity.     Though  pre- 
vented by  her  physical  weakness  and  the 
duties  which  belong  to  her  sex  from  partici- 
pating in  public  affairs,  she  yet  may  perform 

12 


ii  '^  I 


134 


THE    BURIAL    GROUND. 


the  more  important  office  of  training  and 
forming  the  minds  of  those  by  whom  they 
are  governed.  And  in  all  the  wide  world 
of  human  feelings  and  affections,  at  the  home 
of  poverty  or  the  house  of  wealth,  and  in  all 
society,  savage  or  civilized,  at  the  bed  of 
sickness  or  the  cross  of  a  crucified  savior, 
you  will  meet  with  the  presence  and  devo- 
tion of  woman." 


i 


I-    I! 


CHAPTER  XII. 


HOMEWARD. 


The  little  party  had  now  left  tlie  burying 
ground,  and  were  bending  their  course  home- 
ward. Their  minds  were  filled  with  thoughts 
of  the  dead;  how  nobly  they  had  struggled 
through  life;  how  bravely  they  had  met 
death;  how  deep  the  sorrow  and  distress 
their  loss  had  produced  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
living.  On  these  occasions  Harry  was  usual- 
ly the  first  to  break  silence." 

''What  became,"  said  he,  "of  those  who 
were  taken  prisoners?" 

"The  militia"  said  the  Captain,  '"were  dis- 
charged on  their  parol,  not  to  serve  any  more 
during  the  war;  but  most  of  the  regulars 
were  taken  to  Montreal." 

"What  is  meant  by  parol?"    asked  Harry. 

"It  means,"  said  fhc  Captain,  "that  those 
who  are  discharged  gave  their  word  of  hon- 
or not  to  serve  again  during  that  war.  They 
were  still  regarded  as  prisoners  of  why,  but 


,'-.,*«^- 


isn 


HOMEWARD. 


were  at  liberty  to  go  where  they  pleased  if 
they  did  not  take  up  arms.  Sometimes  this 
promise  is  put  in  writing  and  signed  by  those 
who  make  it  or  by  the  officers  in  behalf  of 
themselves  and  their  soldiers.  Sometimes 
too,  soldiers  who  have  been  discharged  in 
this  way  are  exchanged;  that  is  if  the  Amer- 
icans, at  the  same  time,  or  at  any  time  after 
any  of  their  soldiers  have  been  liberated  from 
imprisonment  on  parol,  should  have  any  pris- 
oners belonging  to  the  enemy,  an  agreement 
is  made  between  the  officers  of  the  opposing 
armies,  that  on  liberating  the  prisoners  we 
have  taken,  an  equal  number  of  our  men  who 
have  been  discharged  on  parol,  shall  be  at 
liberty  to  enter  the  service." 

*'You  belonged  to  the  mihtia,"  said  Harry. 

^'Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  "but  I  was  not 
discharged  with  the  others." 

*'You  were  taken  to  Montreal  then  with 
the  regulars,"  said  Harry. 

*'No,"  said  the  Captain,  •'!  had  no  fancy 
for  such  a  march;  and  I  did  not  like  to  lose 
the  privilege  of  a  little  more  iightmg,  when  a 
good  chance  could  be  found.  It  was  known 
at  the  fort  the  day  before  we  were  to  be  iib- 


! 


HOMEWARD. 


137 


1 


crated  what  the  arrangement  was  between 
the  British  and  American  Generals,  as  to  the 
discharge  of  the  prisoners.  On  that  account 
we  were  guarded  less  carefully.  We  were 
not  suspected  of  any  desire  to  escape  when 
it  was  known  that  we  should  be  discharged 
the  next  day.  So,  watching  an  opportunity, 
I  found  means  to  pass  the  sentry  and  slipping 
down  to  the  river,  I  followed  up  a  mile  or 
two  under  the  bank,  unperceived  by  any  one, 
till  I  was  out  of  sight  of  the  fort,  when  by 
signs  I  hailed  a  little  boat  that  was  near  the 
American  shore,  which  came  out  into  the 
middle  of  the  river,  and  finally  nearly  across; 
but  it  dared  not  come  to  the  shore,  for  fear 
that  something  wrong  was  intended  by  me. 
So,  to  make  the  matter  free  from  all  doubt 
to  the  boatman,  I  plunged  into  the  water 
and  swam  to  the  boat,  and,  as  he  would  not 
try  to  take  me  in  for  fear  of  upsetting,  as 
well  as  of  being  seen,  I  held  on  to  the  stern 
of  the  boat  and  he  towed  me  to  the  Amer- 
ican shore.  And  when  our  men  were  mus- 
tered, and  their  names  called  and  enrolled 
previous  to  being  discharged,  I  was  not  there; 

•i»-»/^      l-\nxr\-nr»    /4in/-»|-»r»i»/-r/-»ri      rTi t r ci rv I ♦      of    nmr    oixrii 
<Uiu     iiaviiii:    uiouiitti  j^^u.     iiij  ov^ix      civ    Uij     ^.-tt^b 


I* 


138 


HOMEWARD. 


risk,  I  was  under  no  obligation  not  to  enter 
the  service  again." 

^^But  why/'  said  Harry,  '^did  not  the  Bri- 
tish officers  keep  possession  of  the  prisoners, 
instead  of  discharging  them  on  these  condi- 
tions?" 

^'In  modern  times,"  said  the  Captain,  ''it 
is  usual  in  case  of  war  between  civihzed  na- 
tions, for  each  to  act  as  liberally  towards  the 
other  as  is  consistant  with  their  own  ri^^hts 
and  their  own  safety.     If  the  prisoners  who 
are  liberated  do  not   enter  the  army  again 
during   the  war,  it  is  just  as  well   for  the 
other  nation  as  if  they  kept  them  in  prison. 
Besides,  they  will  then  be  saved  the  trouble 
of  guarding  and  watching  them,  and  the  ex- 
pense of  maintaining  them.     Another  reason 
too  in  favor  of  liberating  them  in  this  way, 
is  that  many  of  these  men  have  families,  and 
by  returning  to  their  homes,  they  would  save 
them  from  suffering.     There  is  much  more 
,  humanity  in  the  laws  of  nations  now  than 
formerly." 

Harry  was  gratified  with  this  explanation, 
as  he  always  was  with  learning  any  thing 
new,  or  useful. 


HOMEWARD. 


139 


*'I  think,"  said  the  Captain,  ^'that  I  have 
already  explained  to  you  what  is  meant  by 
the  laws  of  nations." 

''Yes,"  said  Harry,  ''you  explained  to  me 
how  by  these  laws  we  had  a  right  to  control 
our  own  waters,  and  how  far  our  jurisdic- 
tion extended  out  from  the  shore." 

'^It  is  also  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nations," 
said  the  Captain,  "to  poison  wells  or  springs 
where,  in  time  of  war,  it  is  known  that  the 
enemy  resort  for  water;  or  to  take  the  life 
of  an  enemy  when  he  throws  down  his  arms 
and  ceases  his  resistance." 

"What  would  be  the  consequence,"  asked 
Harry,  "if  prisoners  who  had  been  dischar- 
ged on  par^l  should  break  their  promise  and 
enter  the  service  again]" 

"If  the  enemy  should  find  it  out,"  said  the 
Captain,  "they  would  be  hkely  to  treat  any 
other  prisoners  they  might  have  with  great 
severity;  and  if  any  who  had  thus  kroken 
their  word  should  fall  into  their  hands,  they 
would  be  severely  punished,  and  perhaps  put 
to  death."  * 

"Did  the  English  always  treat  their  pris- 
oners well?"  asked  Harry. 


nm 


Ml 


li 


140 


nOMEWARIi. 


"Not  always,"  answered  the  Captain.     In- 
deed many  of  them,  were  treated  not  only 
with   severity,    but  with   barbarity.     Some 
who  had  been  discharged  on  parol,  were  im- 
pressed into  the  British  service.     Some  were 
thrown  into  prison  and  put  in  irons;  others 
again  in  great  numbers  were  crowded  into 
small  rooms  infested  with  the  most  loathsome 
vermin,  and  there  kept  for  many  days  in  a 
close  and  unhealthy  atmosphere.    Some  were 
crowded  into  the  holds  of  ships,  and  kept  on 
a  scanty  allowance  of  miserable  food.     In 
some  cases  tainted  meat  was  given  to  them 
and  bread  that  was  filled  with  w^orms.     Some 
were  stripped  of  their  clothing,  and  even  de- 
prived of  their  last  blanket.     Many  Ameri- 
can seamen  who  had  been  impressed  into  the 
British  service  before  the  war,  on  hearing  of 
the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,    refused   to 
serve  against  their  own  country,  and  reques- 
ted to  be  considered  prisoners  of  war;  and 
in  consequence  of  this  were  put  in  irons  and 
fed  on   bread  and  water;    and  some  were 
found  at  the  close  of  the  war,  who  had  been 
held  in  captivity  in  British  vessels  for  many 
years,  bearing  on  their  backs  proofs  that  they 


HOMEWARD. 


141 


of 


had  been  whipped  for  refusing  to  serve  in  a 
war  against  their  native  land." 

•'I  wish,"  said  Harry,  "that  the  Enghsh 
may  be  benefitted  by  the  effects  of  civiHza- 
tion  on  modern  warfare." 

"I  do  not  believe,"  said  the  Captain,  "that 
these  cruelties  were  all  known  to  the  Bri- 
tish government,  or  approved  by  it."  Com- 
manders of  vessels,  or  officers  in  their  armies, 
might  have  committed  many  of  these  acts  on 
their  own  responsibility." 

The  Captain  was  unwilling  to  believe  with- 
out proof,  that  the  cruelties  practiced  to- 
wards American  prisoners  were  known  to 
any  but  the  immediate  actors.  He  always 
liked  to  think  well  of  all  human  beings,  and 
he  would  not  do  wrong  towards  an  enemy 
by  attributing  to  him  feelings  and  opinions 
he  did  not  entertain,  though  he  would  freely 
die  in  defence  of  his  country,  for  he  was  a 
true  man. 

They  were  now  leaving  the  river  in  the 
distance  behind  them.  They  nad  already 
ascended  the  mountain,  though  by  a  different 
path  from  that  by  which  they  descended  on 
the  first  day  of  their  travels.     The  Captain 


142 


nOIVIEWARD. 


had    purposely   taken    another    route,    and 
Charles  and  Harry  were  so  much  excited 
by  what  he  was    telling  them  of  the  hard- 
ships and  sufferings  of  American  prisoners 
that   they  had   not  observed   it.     The   suri 
was  now  sinking  down  behind  the  heights  of 
(ciueenston  with  a  mild   radiance,   like  the 
smde  of  the  dying  warrior  upon  the  field  of 
glory.     The  Captain  was  a  little  a  heod  of 
Harry  and  Charles,  for  they  had  often  turned 
a  last  look  at  the  setting  sun,  and  the  shade 
which   the  monument  cast  like  a  dark  pall 
down  the  side  of  the  heights.     Harry  im- 
agmed  as   he   saw  the   shadow  prostrated 
there  like  a  dead  giant,   that  the  monument 
Itself  had  fallen.     While  his  mind  was  occu- 
pied with  these  fancies,  he  heard  the  voice 
of  the  Captain.     Harry  turned  and  saw  that 
he  was  standing  in  front  of  a  small  house, 
and  that  he  was  replying  to  the  evening  sal- 
utation of  a  woman,  who  was  standing  in  the 
door.     When  they  had  come  up  the  Captain 
walked  familiarly  into   the   house,  and  bid 
Harry  and  Charles  to  follow. 

When  they  had  entered  Harry  took 'a  sur- 
vey of  the  features  of  th'^   ^xrrxry^r^r.   u^  l„,i 


lIOMEVVAKJi. 


143 


seen  at  tlie  door.  She  was  of  middle  ago 
with  a  fine  form  and  an  open  and  expressive 
countenance.  She  entered  freely  into  con- 
versation with  the  Captain,  and  it  was  easy 
to  see  that  they  were  old  acquaintances  as 
well  as  old  friends.  Her  deportment  was  that 
of  a  woman  who  well  knew  what  constituted 
the  true  dignity  of  her  sex.  The  only  other 
person  in  the  house  was  an  old  lady  appfar- 
cntly  of  sixty  years  or  more,  who  was  sit- 
ting by  the  fire  engaged  with  her  knitting. 
The  Captani  presented  his  young  friend  Har- 
ry to  them,  and  he  soon  learned  that  his  new 
acquaintances  were  Mary  Brown  and  the 
mother  of  Robert  Jones. 

Harry  was  at  a  loss  how  to  enter  into  con- 
versation with  them,  for  the  Captam,  being 
uncertain  whether  he  should  see  them,  had 
not  prepared  his  mind  for  it,  and  he  had  too 
much  good  breeding  and  delicacy  of  feeling, 
to  let  them  know  that  thev  had  been  made 
the  subject  of  conversation. 

Though  Mary  Brown  was  never  married, 
yet  she  wore  the  weeds  of  tfee  widow.  She 
had  been  the  betrothed  of  Robert  Jones. 
The  union  of  spirit,  that  divine  portion  of 


i 


m 


144 


IIOMEWAKD. 


the  matrimonial  connection,  which  may  truly 
be  said  to  be  made  in  heaven,  was  perfect. 
They  looked  forward  to  the  consummation 
of  their  hopes  and  the  renewal  of  their  vows 
according  to  the  requirements  of  law  and 
the  forms  of  society.     Her  early  love  was  in 
the  grave,  and  she  had  been  true  to  his  mem- 
ory.    Her  life  and  her  feelings  had  assumed 
a  dignity  truly  sublime.     Robert  could  never 
be  forgotten.     He  lived  in  her  memory  in 
perpetual  youth.     He  was  in  her  mind  the 
heau  ideal  of  the  soldier.     She  still  saw  him 
with  all  his  courage  and  chivalry.     When 
death  comes  time  loses  its  power.     No  im- 
agination could  fancy  Robert  still  living  and 
wearing   the  wrinkled   brow  of  age.     The 
dead  who  live  in  the  hearts  and  memories  of 
•  their  friends,  live  as  they  were  when  they 
died.     The  mother  who  lays  her  little  child 
in  the  grave  thinks  of  it  ever  after,  not  as 
the  "possible  future  man  or  woman,"  but  as 
"a  buried  angel,"  wearing  the  beauty  of  ever- 
lasting youth. 

The  attention  of  our  travellers  was  now 
confined  to  what  was  passing  in  the  house. 
The  Captain  had  briefly  stated  to  them  the 


H03IKVVAIII). 


145 


jouniey  tliey  had  taken,  an!l  that  they  were 

now  on  their  way  home.     Within  that  house 

was  neither  i)overty  nor  riches;  but  there 

was  comiort  and  contentment.     The  father 

of  Robert  Jones  had  died,  and  this  was  the 

home  ot  the  widow.     She  liad  been  left  in 

tlie  undisputed  possession  of  a  few  acres  of 

ground,  and  by  tlie  aid  of  a  younger  son  who 

alone  was  left  to  her,   her  little  farm  had 

been   cultivated,    and   with   the    society    of 

Mary,   who  had  become  an  inmate  of  her 

house,  she  was  happy. 

But  a  few  moments  had  passed  when  a 
young  man  entered  the  house.     It  was  Wil- 
liam the  son  of  thp      .dow,  and  the  brother 
of  Robert  Jones.     He  was  well  known  to 
Charles  and  the  Captain,  and  was  presented 
by  them  to  their  young  friend  Harry.     They 
now  entered  freely  into  conversatioi,,  and 
the  minutes  passed  away  faster  than  I  hey 
had  imagined.     Mary  had  taken  advantage 
ot  William's  coming  to  disengage  herself  from 
c^onversation,  and  at  the  moment  when  the 
Captain  was  thinking  of  prosecuting  his  jour- 
ney, they  were  summoned  by  her  to  the  eve- 

J    II  ^iit-  ,ida  picpuiua  aimosi 

13 


nin 


146 


HOMEWARD. 


unperceived.  Before  it  was  finished  the  sun 
was  below  the  horizon,  and  the  hosjiitaiities 
of  the  house,  for  the  night  were  pressed 
upon  the  Httle  party  "with  a  warmth  which 
could  not  be  resisted. 

It  being  settled  that  they  were  to  stay  all 
night,  the  conversation  was  resumed. 

"We  have  been,"  said  the  Captain,  "to  the 
heights  of  Queenston,  and  viewed  all  the 
places  connected  with  the  history  of  that 
battle." 

"I  shall  never  forget  that  day,  nor  its  his- 
tory," said  Mary. 

"Robert  my  poor  boy,"  said  the  old  lady, 
"his  courage  was  greater  than  his  judgment." 

"His  fame  is  now  greater  than  either," 
said  the  Captain.  "Well  do  I  remember  his 
unyielding  spirit  on  the  day  of  the  battle. 
I  do  not  believe  he  would  have  yielded  but 
by  death,  if  our  army  had  not  surrendered. 
His  history  is  known  to  every  one.  The 
■*place  of  his  burial  is  pointed  out  to  strangers, 
and  the  story  of  his  death  is  told,  when  that 
of  most  others  is  forgotten." 

"I  was  there  at  the  opening  of  spring," 
said  Mary,  "and  i  mean  to  go  again  before 


HOMEWARD. 


147 


the  snow  faJls.  1  go  there  every  spring  to 
see  that  the  turf  has  not  been  disturbed,  and 
to  pull  away  tJie  dead  grass  about  the  shrubs 
that  are  planted  there." 

'We  were  there  to-day,"  said  the  Captain, 
"The  littJc  railing  around  the  grave  is  firm, 
and  it  will  be  safe  for  the  winter." 

Mary  and  the  old  lady  were  gratified  with 
this  mark  of  afloctionate  remembrance  by 
the  Captain.  The  reputation  of  Robert  was 
as  dear  to  them  as  their  own  lives.  Now 
that  he  was  gone  nothing  gave  them  greater 
pleasure  than  to  know  that  his  name  was 
remembered  and  respected  by  others. 

"I  have  often  thought,"  said  the  Captain, 
*'that  the  death  of  the  young  soldier,  was  a 
happy  one.  In  youth  one  is  less  entangled 
with  the  cares,  and  beset  vvitli  the  tempta- 
tions of  the  world  than  at  a  later  period  of 
life,  and  it  may  be,  that  by  an  early  death, 
he  has  avoided  evils  which  it  would  not  have 
been  in  his  power  to  resist.  The  life  of  the 
soldier  wdio  dies  in  battle  goes  out  in  a  blaze 
of  glory;  while  that  of  the  aged  man,  instead 
of  burning  out  by  its  own  enthusiasm,  wastes 
away  like  the  light  of  an  expiring  taper." 


i  ■ 


•m 


i 


ft 


148 


HOMEWARD. 


Mary  and  the  old  lady  listened  and  were 
silent;  and  the  conversation  was  soon  turned 
to  other  themes.  The  evenini^  passed  rap- 
idly  away,  and  all  w^ere  soon  sunk  to  rest. 

The  next  morning  our  travellers  took  leave 
of  their  hospitable  friends,  and  pursued  their 
wav. 

''It  was  in  the  power  of  Mary  Brown," 
said  the  Captain,  'Ho  have  taken  the  hand  of 
a  distinguished  American  Officer.  He  had 
learned  her  worth  from  knowing  the  history 
of  Robert  Jones.  But  she  was  wedded  to 
the  memory  of  her  betrothed,  and  she  would 
think  of  no  other  nuptials.  I  have  often 
heard  her  repeat,  with  admiration,  the  saying 
of  a  celebrated  English  woman,  that  if  the 
richest  monarch  of  the  world  should  lay  his 
wealth  at  her  feet,  she  could  never  forget 
that  she  had  been  the  wife  of  John,  Duke  of 
Marlborough.'' 

''And  the  old. lady,"  said  Harry,  ''she  looks 
like  the  mother  of  a  hero." 

"Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  "she  always  ad- 
mired the  bravery  of  Robert,  though  she 
deeply  lamented  his  death.     And  his  father 


too, 

be  s 


HOMEWAIID. 


141) 


too,  he  was  proud  of  him.     Triily  it  might 
be  said  of  their  son; 

*He  lived  as  mothers  wish  their  sons  to  live, 
He  died  as  fathers  wish  their  sons  do  die.'  " 

The  path  they  were  now  pursuing  led 
through  a  moderately  settled  portion  of  the 
country,  which  was  handsomely  diversified 
with  woods  and  fields.  Here  and  there  a 
farm  house  was  seen  which  was  passed  by 
without  ■  ;ting  any  particular  notice;  and 
tliey  soon  tell  into  the  same  track  they  had 
followed  on  leaving  home.  Their  march 
was  now  onward  without  any  prospect  of 
being  interrupted,  and  with  the  hope,  now 
almost  made  certain,  of  reaching  home  that 
dav. 

''Our  return  will  be  looked  for  to-nio-ht," 
said  Harry. 

''Yes,"  said  the  Captain,  ''and  unless  we 
arrive  sooner  than  we  are  expected,  we  shall 
find  Alice  and  Lucy  watching  for  us  at  the 
window.  You  will  have  stories  enough  to 
tell  thr.n  for  several  days." 

It  was  not  the  least  part  of  the  pleasure 
Harry  expected  from  this  expedition,  to  re- 
count his  adventures  to  Alice  and  Lucy  Gray. 


150 


n03IEWARD. 


Indeed  Ms  mind  was  so  much  occupied  with 
this  thought,  that  his  conversational  powers 
seemed  to  be  suspended.  The  interest  of 
the  journey  w^as  diminishing  as  it  was  draw- 
ing to  a  close,  as  the  appetite  is  exhausted 
by  repletion.  It  was  early  in  the  afternoon 
when  they  came  in  sight  of  home.  They 
had  just  gained  the  httle  elevation  which 
overlooked  the  farm,  and  commanded  a  view 
of  the  front  of  the  house,  when  they  saw 
Alice  and  Lucy  in  the  garden  gathering  some 
flower  seeds,  and  looking  after  some  of  their 
choice  plants,  to  see  if  they  w^ould  be  safe 
for  the  w^inter. 

As  they  saw  them  coming  from  a  distance, 
they  stood  looking,  as  if  in  doubt  who  they 
were,  and  in  a  moment  being  satisfied,  they 
ran  to  meet  them.  Their  glad  voices  were 
heard  in  the  house,  which  brought  their 
mother  to  the  door,  and  all  were  made  hap- 
py by  meeting  again. 

As  Harry  had  expected.  Alice  and  Lucy 
had  been  anxious  for  them  on  the  first  night 
of  their  absence.  Their  mother  however 
had  quieted  their  fears  as  well  as  she  was 
able,  but  to  say  the  truth,   she  was  not  en- 


HOMEWAHD. 


151 


tirel.y  free  from  anxiety  herself;  but  the  next 
day  all  their  fears  were  dissipated,  by  receiv- 
ing the  message  which  the  Captain  had  sent 
to  them  from  the  Indian  village. 

The  table  was  soon  spread,  and  was  load- 
ed with  the  good  things  which  had  been  pre- 
pared for  the  returning  travellers.  Their 
curiosity  had  been  satisfied  by  seeing;  the 
fears  of  their  friends  at  home  had  fled;  hope 
was  swallowed  up  in  enjoyment,  and  the 
evening  was  spent  in  social  converse.  The 
adventures  of  their  journey  was  the  burthen 
of  their  conversation,  and  before  they  re- 
tired for  the  night,  they  resolved  that  their 
next  visit,  after  a  few  days  of  rest,  should  be 
to  Fort  Niagara. 


